Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: The Fifth Circuit

by scififan599

To Yuji, Den City is his home. Fighting to protect it as Kingmaker, he ends up pulled into a war between dimensions alongside the Lancers. Follow alongside him and his comrades Hanako Zaizen and Go Onizuka as they navigate the dimensions and do their best to restore peace to their world and others. AU of ARC-V with the addition of the Link Dimension. Third Arc: Xyz Arc

45. Chapter 45: The King of Academia

Responses to Reviews

Thank you to donkeyboy100, Xyzdragon1234, wolf354 zxc, LoneTaker, LHOCIN, HunterHQ, Nightbat, Apex85, FlameFireZero X, shaswatpatnayakthewriter26, pokemonking0924, DSpaceZ, Dimension Se7en, naminexriku2468, Ethan Kironus, King of Autumn Leaves, LiberatorOfLight, Supercharger3000, and Guests for reviewing Chapter 44.

Dimension Se7en: Kurosaki won't be getting any Ritual Monsters; they're just excessive to his Deck, so he doesn't need them.

Now before I get to the chapter, a few things. First of all, this is the longest chapter I've ever written. Over 30,000 words! That should be enough explanation for why this came out so late. The next one won't be anywhere near as long, so hopefully it will come out faster.

And second, a HUGE thank you to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC for helping me with the OC cards and duels of this chapter, and for helping me with Fifth Circuit in general. I don't know how many rulings I would have missed or violated without their help.

Now, I hope you enjoy Chapter 45 of Fifth Circuit!

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Chapter 45: The King of Academia

"You're sure it was this direction?"

"There's smoke that way, isn't there?"

"There's smoke everywhere in Heartland."

"Yes, but that smoke is more recent and the largest; ergo, it is the most likely location for our allies."

Serena sighed at Yuji's point even as she ran alongside him. "It says quite a bit about the Lancers that upon seeing smoke from an explosion, our immediate thought is that one of our own caused it."

"I feel like that statement applies to the Resistance as well," Yuji snarked back. The two had done as they planned and scaled the tallest building in their area to get a birds' eye view of the landscape, and once atop said building, they had spotted smoke rising from another area of Heartland. Assuming it was from a duel, Serena and Yuji headed that way at a run. They didn't know if Sayaka was there, but it was as good a guess as any.

The two had just vaulted over a ruined wall when Yuji tensed and stopped. Serena turned to look before her eyes widened, and she stopped as well. "Who is there?" she demanded, raising her Duel Disk.

"I see your senses have sharpened in your time away." Serena and Yuji tensed even more at the familiar voice. Its owner walked out from behind a ruined wall and stood opposite them. "If nothing else, I am glad to see your growth, Lady Serena."

"Barrett!" Serena exclaimed. She grit her teeth. "It wasn't enough to follow me to the Synchro Dimension? You had to come to Heartland too?"

"I do regret how things went in the Synchro Dimension," the eyepatch-wearing soldier replied. "I was not happy to see the state you were in back then. Security's doing, I believe?" His eye narrowed. "But that does not matter now. My orders now are the same as they were back then, Lady Serena. The Professor wishes for you to return to Academia. I will not fail him a second time."

"You're going to have to," Serena said. "The Lancers are my comrades; I won't abandon them!"

"Such passion is impressive, but it is misguided. I will-."

WHIP

Barrett blinked in surprise as a cord of blue energy connected to his Duel Disk. "What?" He blinked again as his Duel Disk started up. "What is this?"

Serena blinked as she followed the cord back to Yuji's activated Duel Disk. "Yuji? What is that?"

"If you wish to take Serena back, you will have to go through me first," the Link duelist declared. He yanked on the cord, making Barrett stumble forward. "This is called a Data Anchor. It links our Duel Disks and forces us into a Duel. Neither of us will be able to duel anyone else until we duel each other."

"What?" Serena gasped. "Yuji, why would you use that? And when did you even get that?"

"Ryoken and I used this back in the Link Dimension, but it took me way too long to get it to work in the real world," Yuji explained. His voice dropped. "Serena, Barrett is a distraction. We have to find the others." Her eyes widened as she remembered what they had been doing before Barrett appeared. "You're the one he wants, and both of us don't need to be here. I'll keep him busy while you get the others."

"…If you lose to him, I'll hold it over your head forever," Serena muttered. Yuji's lip twitched. "Good luck." She turned and ran off.

"Lady Serena!" Barrett made to follow her, only to be yanked back by the cord on his Duel Disk. He scowled at Yuji. "Release me from this device."

"I will not," Yuji said. "Your mission is to retrieve Serena, but she is my comrade. Thus, my mission is to protect her."

"And so our missions are at cross purposes," Barrett said, finishing Yuji's thought. "I witnessed your duels against Yuri and the Obelisk Force. You are highly skilled, but do not think I will fall easily."

"The same to you."

"Field Spell Card: Crossover."

"Duel!"

Yuji Kogami: 4000 LP

Barrett: 4000 LP

"Master Rule Override activated."

"I will take the first turn. I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Beastborg Fusioner! I cannot Normal Summon or Set, but once per turn, I can Fusion Summon a 'Beastborg' Fusion Monster using monsters from my hand or field. I fuse Dark Sentinel and Panther Warrior in my hand! O ferocious black panther, merge together with the watchman of the holy darkness, and raise a new war cry! Fusion Summon! Come forth and appear. Beastborg Panther Predator!" A humanoid armored panther appeared at the left Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position, the left half of its body replaced by teal and gray cyborg parts.

Beastborg Panther Predator ATK 1600 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Panther Predator's monster effect! Once per turn, I can inflict damage equal to half its attack points!" The beast fired a ray of red light from the light on its chest, hitting Yuji and making him wince.

Yuji Kogami: 4000→3200 LP

"I Set one card. I end my turn. Now, show me what a duelist of the Link Dimension can do!"

"My turn! Draw!" Yuji glanced at his cards, then at Barrett's field. He had only seen a little of the latter's duel with Yuya, but the Standard duelist had told Yuji what had happened later. So he had a good idea of what Barrett was planning to do. And if he was right…

"I summon Draconnet!" A blue-and-white metalloid dragon appeared.

Draconnet ATK 1400 DEF 1200 LVL: 3

"Draconnet's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Normal Monster from my hand or Deck in Defense Position. From my Deck, I summon Protron!" A small white-and-black monster with blue digital eyes appeared.

Protron ATK 100 DEF 100 LVL: 1

"If I control a Cyberse monster, I can Special Summon Backup Secretary!" A violet-haired woman in silver and violet appeared in Attack Position.

Backup Secretary ATK 1200 DEF 800 LVL: 3

"Three monsters so quickly," Barrett muttered. "Is he going to Link Summon?"

"If I would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Micro Coder in my hand!" Yuji declared.

"What?" Barrett gasped. "A monster in the hand?"

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set Backup Secretary, Draconnet, and Micro Coder in my hand in the Link Markers!" A small white armored human with a dagger appeared before turning into energy and, along with the woman and dragon, entered the Link portal's top, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Decode Talker!" A humanoid warrior in violet armor wielding a massive sword emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Decode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

"Since I used Micro Coder to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can add a 'Cynet' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand."

"Using a monster from the hand was unexpected, but your moves are easy to read," Barrett said. "Continuous Trap activate! Beastborg Medal of the Crimson Chain! As a monster was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can target that monster! That monster cannot attack or change its battle position!" The Trap Card shot red chains out towards Decode Talker.

Yuji… smirked. "It seems my moves aren't the only ones that are easy to read." Barrett's eye widened. "Decode Talker's monster effect! When you activate a card or effect that targets my card, I can Tribute a monster at Decode Talker's Link Marker to negate the activation and destroy that card!"

"What?"

"I Tribute Protron to negate Crimson Chain's effect and destroy it!" The little monster turned into particles that were absorbed by Decode Talker's sword. With a roar, the warrior swung his sword, sending a wave of violet energy that crashed into the chains, destroying them.

Barrett stared before his eye narrowed. "You anticipated my use of Crimson Chain," he stated. It was not a question.

"Yuya Sakaki is here in Heartland as well," Yuji informed him. "He told me how your duel went. I figured you would try the same tactics you used against him on me. And I was right."

"…Indeed you were," Barrett said reluctantly.

"I Special Summon Link Infra-Flier!" A blue kite appeared at Decode Talker's bottom-right Link Marker in Defense Position.

Link Infra-Flier ATK 0 DEF 1800 LVL: 2

"Link Infra-Flier can be Special Summoned to a Link Monster's Link Marker. And while Decode Talker points to a monster, it gains 500 attack points. Power Integration!"

Decode Talker ATK 2300→2800

"Battle! Decode Talker attacks Panther Predator! Decode End!" The warrior charged and swung his sword, bisecting the cyborg and making it explode. Barrett grunted as he was pushed back.

Barrett: 4000→2800 LP

"Panther Predator's additional effect!" the Fusion duelist declared, gesturing to his field. "If it is destroyed by battle and all of its materials are in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon them!" An armored humanoid panther and a teal aircraft appeared, both in Defense Position.

Dark Sentinel ATK 1500 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

Panther Warrior ATK 2000 DEF 1600 LVL: 4

"I Set one card," Yuji said. "I end my turn."

"You anticipated my actions and prepared accordingly," Barrett said. He lightly smirked. "Not bad. I'll have to kick things up a notch. My turn! Draw! I activate Beastborg Fusioner's effect! I fuse Dark Sentinel and Panther Warrior! O ferocious black panther, merge together with the watchman of the holy darkness, and raise a new war cry! Fusion Summon! Come forth and appear, Beastborg Panther Predator!" Another cyborg panther appeared at the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.

Beastborg Panther Predator ATK 1600 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Panther Predator's monster effect! Once per turn, I inflict damage equal to half its attack points!" The monster roared and fired a beam of red light at Yuji.

"That's not going to work a second time," Yuji responded. "Counter Trap activate! Cynet Conflict! If a monster effect is activated while I control a 'Code Talker' monster, that effect is negated, and the monster in question is banished!" Barrett gasped as the red light dissipated and his Fusion Monster was warped away. "And until the end of the next turn, you cannot activate the effects of cards with the same original name as the banished card."

"So you were prepared for that as well," Barrett said. "But were you prepared for this? I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Beastborg Supply Chain!" The card showed a dirt road occupied by multiple Carrier Sentinels, all guarded by multiple Panther Predators and Beastborg Wolf Kämpfers. "Once per turn, if I control no monsters or only control 'Beastborg' monsters, I can shuffle up to two Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters into my Deck, then add the same amount of Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters with different names from my Deck to my hand. I return Dark Sentinel and Panther Warrior to my Deck to add Sentinel Supplier and Abare Ushioni to my hand."

Yuji tensed. New Fusion Materials…

"Now, by sending Beastborg Fusioner to the Graveyard, I can activate the Continuous Spell Card: Beastborg Fusioner Mk. II!" The card showed a lab with a silver mold under a lamp, with a humanoid outline in it. Panther Warrior and Cannon Soldier were standing in front of the mold, both looking nervous. "Once per turn, I can Fusion Summon one 'Beastborg' monster using monsters from my hand or field as material. I fuse Abare Ushioni and Sentinel Supplier in my hand!"

A red bull covered in white markings appeared alongside a black VTOL with two propellers on its wings. The two turned into energy and spiraled into the Fusion vortex. "Horned yokai that tramples the opposition, unite as one with the provider of darkness and raise a new beast! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 6! Beastborg Taurus Jaeger!" A red bull with mechanical legs and black armor plating on its back emerged from the vortex at the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. A pair of cannons were attached to its back, and its horns had been modified into gun barrels.

Beastborg Taurus Jaeger ATK 2500 DEF 1200 LVL: 6

"A new 'Beastborg' monster," Yuji muttered.

"When Sentinel Supplier is sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material, I can add a Machine monster from my Deck to my hand," Barrett said. He took the card from his Deck. "Taurus Jaeger's monster effect! Once per turn, I can target one of your monsters. That monster loses 800 attack points and has its effects negated! I target Decode Talker!" The bull's horns fired lasers at the Link Monster.

Yuji narrowed his eyes. What was Barrett up to? Whatever it was, he couldn't let Decode Talker be weakened like this. "Decode Talker's monster effect! When you target my card with an effect, I Tribute my monster at its Link Marker to negate that effect and destroy your card!" Link Infra-Flier disintegrated, and its particles entered the Link Monster's sword. Decode Talker swung with a roar, batting back the lasers. The lasers turned back at Taurus Jaeger, but to Yuji's surprise, they only hit the ground around the Fusion Monster instead of hitting it directly. What?

"Surprised?" Barrett asked rhetorically. "So long as Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 is on the field, my 'Beastborg' monsters cannot be destroyed by card effects."

Yuji grit his teeth. "You used Taurus Jaeger's effect to weaken Decode Talker. Without Link-Infra Flier at its Link Marker, it loses 500 attack points."

Decode Talker ATK 2800→2300

"It didn't matter if you negated my effect or not; your monster would still lose. Battle! Taurus Jaeger attacks Decode Talker!" The Fusion Monster's cannons charged and fired two beams of red energy. The beams tore through the Link Monster and hit Yuji, knocking him back with a grunt.

Yuji Kogami: 3200→3000 LP

"I end my turn."

"My turn! Draw!" Yuji looked at his card, then at Barrett's field. No Set cards, and only protection against destruction effects. But he added a monster to his hand. It likely has an effect to prevent or reduce damage. And this Beastborg undoubtedly has the same effect as Panther Predator to bring back its Fusion Materials if destroyed. His eyes narrowed. But those do not matter. I will simply duel as I always do.

"I summon Cyberse Gadget!" A humanoid white and blue machine with prongs on its shoulders appeared.

Cyberse Gadget ATK 1400 DEF 300 LVL: 4

"Gadget's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position with its effects negated. Come, Micro Coder!" A short, armored humanoid armed with a short sword appeared.

Micro Coder ATK 300 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cynet Codec." Yuji raised his right hand. "Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Effect Monsters. I set Cyberse Gadget and Micro Coder in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Code Talker!" A warrior in white armor emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, swinging a white greatsword.

Code Talker ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"Since Cyberse Gadget was sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Gadget Token." A small white monster with two red prongs at its sides appeared in Defense Position.

Gadget Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 2

"Micro Coder's monster effect! When it is sent from the field to the Graveyard to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can add a Level 4 Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Code Radiator to my hand." Yuji then gestured to his field. "Finally, Cynet Codec's effect activates! If a 'Code Talker' monster is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can add a Cyberse monster with the same Attribute from my Deck to my hand, but I cannot add monsters of the same Attribute to my hand with this effect for the rest of the turn. Code Talker is a Dark monster, so I'll add the Dark SIMM Tablir to my hand."

"You Summoned a token and added two monsters to your hand with a single Link Summon," Barrett said. "Your dueling is methodical and rational. Not unlike a soldier's."

"I was trained to duel by my brother," Yuji responded. "To him, dueling was a tool to achieve one's objective. What you used it for was up to you; dueling itself is just a means to an end." He gestured to his field again. "If I would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Code Radiator in my hand instead. Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set Code Radiator in my hand and Link-2 Code Talker on my field in the Link Markers!" A blue armored humanoid with a tail instead of legs briefly appeared before it and Code Talker entered the top, bottom, and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Transcode Talker!" An orange-armored warrior emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Transcode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↑↓→

Yuji smirked. "Code Radiator's effect activates! When it sent from the hand to the Graveyard to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can target one of your monsters. That monster's effects are negated and its attack points become 0! I target Taurus Jaeger!"

"What?" Barrett gasped. Water enveloped the armored bull and then sunk its skin, making it groan.

Beastborg Taurus Jaeger ATK 2500→0

Barrett grit his teeth. I could just attack with Transcode Talker, Yuji thought. But that won't win the duel. Or account for whatever card he has in his hand.

"Cynet Codec's effect activates! I add the Earth Code Generator from my Deck to my hand. Transcode Talker's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Link-3 or lower Cyberse Link Monster from my Graveyard to its Link Marker. Resurrect, Code Talker!" The white-armored warrior reappeared at Transcode Talker's bottom Link Marker.

Code Talker ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"Transcode Talker's additional effect! While it is co-linked, itself and monsters co-linked with it gain 500 attack points and cannot be targeted by your card effects. Furthermore, Code Talker gains 500 attack points for each monster it points to."

Code Talker ATK 1300→1800→2300

Transcode Talker ATK 2300→2800

If he has a way to reduce the damage from my first attack, Yuji thought, then I will need more monsters to destroy Taurus Jaeger's Fusion Materials. "If I use would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Code Generator in my hand. Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I set Code Generator in my hand and Link-2 Code Talker on my field in the Link Markers!" A smaller version of Transcode Talker armed with two pistols briefly appeared before it and Code Talker entered the left, top, and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Excode Talker!" A large, green-armored humanoid with massive shoulders and plates on its wrists emerged from the portal at Transcode Talker's bottom Link Marker.

Excode Talker ATK 2300→2800 LINK-3 ←↑→

"Since Code Generator was sent from the hand to the Graveyard to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can send a Cyberse monster with 1200 or less attack points from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Prohibit Snake to the Graveyard. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and I add the Wind Code Exporter from my Deck to my hand." Yuji smirked. "Excode Talker's monster effect! When it is Link Summoned, I can choose unused Main Monster Zones equal to the number of monsters in the Extra Monster Zones, and while Excode Talker is on the field, those zones cannot be used. There are two such monsters, so I'll choose two of your Main Monster Zones. Grasp Zone!"

Excode Talker threw two green spheres at Barrett's field, creating two red "X"'s across his center-left and center-right Main Monster Zones.

"Finally, monsters linked to Excode Talker gain 500 attack points and cannot be destroyed by card effects."

Transcode Talker ATK 2800→3300

Transcode Talker's attack will end this, but only if he has no way to reduce the damage. "I activate the effect of SIMM Tablir in my hand! By revealing it and targeting the Level 4 Cyberse Gadget in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon SIMM Tablir to my linked Link Monster's Link Marker, then return the targeted monster to my hand." A black, white, and light blue mechanical tapir appeared at Excode Talker's left Link Marker in Defense Position.

SIMM Tablir ATK 0→500 DEF 1800 LVL: 5

"If I would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Code Exporter in my hand as material. For the fourth time, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are three monsters. I set Code Exporter in my hand, and Gadget Token and SIMM Tablir on my field in the Link Markers!" A green mechanical griffin with holographic wings briefly appeared before it and the latter two monsters entered the left, right, and bottom-left arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Powercode Talker!" A red-armored humanoid emerged from the portal at Excode Talker's right Link Marker.

Powercode Talker ATK 2300→2800 LINK-3 ←↙→

"Three of his 'Code Talker' monsters out in a single turn," Barrett muttered. "How resourceful."

"Since Code Exporter was sent from the hand to the Graveyard to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Micro Coder to my hand. Cynet Codec's effect activates! I add the Fire Flame Bufferlo from my Deck to my hand."

Yuji pointed to his field. "Battle! Transcode Talker attacks Taurus Jaeger!" This attack should end it, but if he has a way to reduce the damage… "Trans Fault!" The Link Monster's shoulder popped open, revealing a rifle that Transcode Talker held in its right hand. It fired a beam of yellow light at Barrett's Fusion Monster.

"I activate the effect of Automated Sentinel in my hand!" Barrett declared. The card showed a gray triangular jet with a raised bump in the center and an engine at the rear but no cockpit. "If my Machine monster is attacked, I can discard Automated Sentinel to take no damage from this battle!" The beam hit Taurus Jaeger and made it explode, but a gray barrier formed around Barrett and blocked the shockwave. "And since Taurus Jaeger was destroyed by battle, I can summon its Fusion Materials from the Graveyard!" The original red bull and the black VTOL reappeared, both in Defense Position.

Abare Ushioni ATK 1200 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

Sentinel Supplier ATK 1200 DEF 1700 LVL: 4

Yuji's eyes narrowed. "I figured you would reduce the damage, but prevent it entirely? I activate the effect of Prohibit Snake in my Graveyard! If my Cyberse monster destroys your monster in battle, I can banish a card from my Graveyard to add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll banish Cynet Conflict to add Code Generator to my hand.

"I might be able to damage you, but I can still wipe your field clear. Excode Talker attacks Abare Ushioni! Excode Close!" Holographic claws formed from Excode Talker's wrists. The monster charged and cut through the red bull, destroying it. "Powercode Talker attacks Sentinel Supplier! Power Termination Smash!" The red warrior fired a grapnel claw at the machine, ensnaring it. Wind formed around its fist before it punched through the VTOL, destroy it and leaving Barrett's field empty. I Set one card. I end my turn."

"Even though you failed to inflict damage, you still took steps to deprive me of resources for my next turn," Barrett said. "I compared your dueling to that of a soldier's, and your actions since have only reinforced that observation. You are not like the duelists of Academia or the Resistance."

Yuji raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

"A person's dueling reflects their own experiences and personality," Barrett explained. "When I dueled the Resistance, I sensed their determination to survive and overcome. My fellows in Academia duel with savagery meant to break their opponents. But you… you duel rationally. Like a soldier given a task and determined to complete that task." He smiled softly. "Truthfully, it is refreshing to see. People often mistake warriors for soldiers; it is good to see someone more similar to the latter. Although…"

"What?"

"…It is nothing."

Barrett had sensed quite a bit about Yuji Kogami through their duel. He could see a soldier's mentality and readiness to do what was necessary. He could see a comrade fighting to protect his allies. It pleased Barrett to know Serena had such dedicated allies on her side. And yet…

He could sense something else to Yuji's dueling. An emptiness. A void. It didn't fill him, but it was there, mixed with the other aspects of his dueling. An apathy that was being chipped away at slowly. Barrett had to admit he was glad whatever emptiness that was within Yuji was fading away, as it reminded him far too strongly of another.

For a moment, Barrett saw someone else instead of Yuji. A tall young man in a black trench coat. Whose face was covered by a mask.

He dismissed the image immediately; Yuji was not that man. Barrett had more important things to worry about than the Professor's constant shadow.

"My turn! Draw!"

---

Serena lightly panted as she kept running. A part of her felt it was cowardly to leave Yuji with Barrett, but the larger part of her knew that Yuji had been correct; only one of them was needed to defeat Barrett, and the search for Sayaka had to take priority.

Though she would admit to feeling frustrated that Yuji had taken that choice away from her. She was the one Barrett was after, so she should have been the one to duel him. Oh well; she'd yell at him once this was-

"There you are, Serena."

The girl tensed and spun in the direction of the voice. She looked up and saw a man, probably a few years older than her, standing atop a ruined building. He wore a black overcoat with silver trimmings over a skintight black shirt and leather pants. His blue hair was in three layers, with his blue eyes beneath his bangs. An Academia-style Duel Disk in blue and dark silver sat on his left wrist.

"Who are you?" Serena demanded. "You're with Academia?" That was obvious from the Duel Disk, but she didn't recognize him. But that wasn't what had her concerned. I didn't pick up his presence at all. And there are no holes in his guard. Who is he?

"I am," the young man answered, jumping down from his rooftop and landing lightly on the ground. "We never met back in Academia, but my name is Ryo Marufuji." He smiled softly as Serena's face immediately paled. "Ah, I see you know my name."

She did. Ryo Marufuji. The Kaiser. One of the three strongest alumni Academia had ever produced. Undefeated in his time as a student, and undefeated since. If he was here for her…

Serena grit her teeth and suppressed the shaking in her knees. "The Professor must be truly desperate if he's sending you after me."

"Desperate? No." Ryo shook his head. "If he was desperate… well, consider yourself fortunate I'm the one you got. Now, I will say this once." He narrowed his eyes. "Serena, the Professor desires your return to Academia. I promised him I would bring you back. And I don't break my promises. Will you return with me willingly?"

"Of course not!" Serena spat back, activating her Duel Disk. "I didn't go back in the Synchro Dimension, and I won't return now!" She narrowed her eyes. "I know your reputation, but I'm a Lancer, with comrades depending on me! For their sake, I won't lose to you!"

Ryo stared at her before smiling softly again. "Resolve like that at your age is truly impressive. If it was up to me, perhaps I would let you go for such a declaration. But the Professor has laid his expectations at my feet, and I will not disappoint him. So if you wish to fight…" He activated his Duel Disk's black sword-shaped blade. "Then I will answer that resolve with my own."

"Field Spell Card: Crossover."

"Duel!"

Serena: 4000 LP

Ryo Marufuji: 4000 LP

"I'll take the first turn!" Serena declared. "I summon Lunalight Black Sheep!" A young woman in a black tailcoat with two gold curled horns on her shoulders appeared.

Lunalight Black Sheep ATK 100 DEF 600 LVL: 2

"I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization! I fuse Black Sheep on my field with Lunalight Yellow Marten in my hand. The beast lurking in jet-black darkness! The yellow beast that hunts by the moonlight! Spiral into the moon's gravity and create a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me! Beautiful beast that dances in the moonlight! Lunalight Cat Dancer!" A woman with long red hair wearing a blue dress emerged from the Fusion vortex in Attack Position.

Lunalight Cat Dancer ATK 2400 DEF 2000 LVL: 7

"Since Black Sheep was sent from my field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon, it is returned to my hand. And as Yellow Marten was sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can add a 'Lunalight' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand." Serena took the card and then played it. "I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Lunalight Hunting Dance! While this card is on the field, my 'Lunalight' monsters cannot be destroyed by card effects, and I can activate one of two effects per turn. But before I use that effect, I'll activate the Spell Card: Fusion Recovery, which lets me add Polymerization and one monster that was used to Fusion Summon from my Graveyard to my hand."

Serena took Yellow Marten and her Spell Card out of her Graveyard. "I activate the Spell Card Polymerization! I fuse Black Sheep and Yellow Marten in my hand. The beast lurking in jet-black darkness! The yellow beast that hunts by the moonlight! Spiral into the moon's gravity and create a new power! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 7! Beast of the shield that dances in the twilight! Lunalight Aegis Dancer!"

The woman that emerged from the Fusion vortex had dark yellow skin with black spots. Her eyes were a sharp blue, and her mouth was covered by a golden faceguard that displayed two prominent teeth. She wore a sleeveless golden top, black gloves, and a long maroon skirt. In her hands she held two oversized crescent-shaped shields. The woman winked, her mane of black hair falling down her back as she locked her two shields together into a circle as she took her place in Defense Position.

Lunalight Aegis Dancer ATK 1800 DEF 2600 LVL: 7

"Defense Position?" Ryo realized, raising an eyebrow.

"While Aegis Dancer is on the field, you can only target Aegis Dancer for attacks and with effects," Serena said. My general strategy is almost solely focused on offense. But against someone with a reputation like the Kaiser… I can't afford to take any chances.

"I activate Hunting Dance's first effect! I target and return a 'Lunalight' card that is banished or in my Graveyard to my Deck, then add a different 'Lunalight' card from my Deck to my hand. I return Black Sheep to my Deck add Lunalight Reincarnation Dance to my hand. I end my turn."

"Two Fusion Summons in one turn," Ryo said, "one focused on offense and another on defense." He closed his eyes. "It's a very thorough setup. However…" his eyes opened sharply. "Let us see how it holds up for real. My turn! Draw! As you are the only one who controls a monster, I can Special Summon Cyber Dragon!" A serpentine white mechanical dragon appeared in Attack Position.

Cyber Dragon ATK 2100 DEF 1600 LVL: 5

"I summon Cyber Dragon Core." A thin metal serpent connected to red wires appeared.

Cyber Dragon Core ATK 400 DEF 1500 LVL: 2

"Core's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I add a 'Cyber' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand." Ryo took the card and then played it. "I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cyberload Factory!" The card showed the interior of a massive warehouse, where three mechanical dragons, one with a single head, one with two heads, and a third with three heads, were suspended and being worked on by several workers. "While Cyberload Factory is on the field, the activation of my cards or effects that would perform a Fusion Summon cannot be negated, and you cannot activate cards or effects when I perform a Fusion Summon."

Serena grit her teeth. That meant she couldn't stop him from Fusion Summoning. "I activate Cyberload Factory's effect! Once per turn, I can Fusion Summon a Machine Fusion Monster using monsters from my hand or field! And since Core is on my field, its name becomes Cyber Dragon. I fuse my two Cyber Dragons!" A silver serpentine dragon was superimposed over Core before it and the original Cyber Dragon spiraled into the Fusion vortex. "Mechanical dragons who create a new future, merge your power into a new machine! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 8! Cyber Twin Dragon!" A large white metal dragon with two heads, but no wings or claws, emerged from the vortex in Attack Position.

Cyber Twin Dragon ATK 2800 DEF 2100 LVL: 8

"I activate Cyberload Factory's additional effect! Once per turn, I can target one Machine monster I control. And until my next Standby Phase, that monster gains 800 attack points and inflicts piercing battle damage when it attacks a Defense Position monster. I target Cyber Twin Dragon."

Cyber Twin Dragon ATK 2800→3600

"3600?" Serena gasped. And piercing damage?

"Battle! Cyber Twin Dragon attacks Aegis Dancer! Evolution Twin Burst!" The dragon's right head fired a beam of green energy at Serena's Fusion Monster.

"The first time each turn Aegis Dancer would be destroyed by battle or card effect, it isn't destroyed!" Serena declared. The beam struck Aegis Dancer's shields. She cried out but stood her ground. However, the shockwave of the attack continued past her and struck Serena, making her wince.

Serena: 4000→3000 LP

"If you thought that would help, you are mistaken," Ryo told her. "Cyber Twin Dragon can make a second attack during each Battle Phase." Serena's eyes widened. "Cyber Twin Dragon attacks Aegis Dancer again! Evolution Twin Burst!" This time, the left head fired a beam of green energy. Serena's Fusion Monster raised her shields, only for the light to consume her with an explosion. Serena grunted as the shockwave hit her, pushing her back.

Serena: 4000→2000 LP

Serena grit her teeth but gestured to her field. "Trap activate! Lunalight Reincarnation Dance! When my 'Lunalight' Fusion Monster is destroyed, I can add two 'Lunalight' monsters from my Deck to my hand."

"In the face of overwhelming power, you still struggle," Ryo noted as Serena took her cards. "Very well. Show me how far your resolve takes you. I Set two cards. I end my turn."

---

"As it is the only card in my hand, I can Special Summon Carrier Sentinel!" Barrett said. A green armored truck with treads appeared on his field in Attack Position.

Carrier Sentinel ATK 1000 DEF 1600 LVL: 4

"Carrier Sentinel's monster effect! If it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one Beast-Warrior monster from my Deck to my hand." Barrett took his card. "There is an additional advantage Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 has over its predecessor. Beastborg Fusioner prevented me from Normal Summoning, but Mk. 2 has no such restriction. I summon Panther Warrior!" A violet-skinned, armor-wearing anthropomorphic panther appeared and roared.

Panther Warrior ATK 2000 DEF 1600 LVL: 4

He summoned the monster he added to his hand? Yuji thought. His Spell Card lets him Fusion Summon with monsters from his hand. Why would he…? His eyes widened in realization. He must be…!

"Appear, the fused circuit!" Barrett declared. "The summoning conditions are two Machine and/or Beast-Warrior monsters. I set Carrier Sentinel and Panther Warrior in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Beastborg Panther Defender!" Another anthropomorphic violet-skinned panther emerged from the Link portal at the Extra Monster Zone. This one wore the same armor as Panther Warrior and wielded a sword in its right hand. But the left half of its body had been replaced by dark green cybernetic parts, and its left hand ended in a six-sided shield with a red gem in the center.

Beastborg Panther Defender ATK 1600 LINK-2 ↙↘

"So you've incorporated Link Summoning into your Deck too," Yuji said grimly.

"A skilled warrior uses whatever tools he has to use to win," Barrett replied. "Learning a new summoning method when it becomes available is simply logical. Panther Defender's monster effect! When it is Link Summoned, "I can add a 'Beastborg' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand." Barrett took the card, then gestured to his field. "I activate Supply Chain's effect! As the only monster I control is a 'Beastborg' monster, I can return up to two Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters from my Graveyard to my Deck, then add the same number of different Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters from my Deck to my hand. I return Abare Ushioni and Sentinel Supplier to my Deck to add Rampaging Rhynos and Repair Sentinel to my hand. But before I use them, I activate the Spell Card: Beastborg Recall!" The card showed a wounded Panther Predator and Wolf Kämpfer being pulled out a trench towards an ambulance. "I return two 'Beastborg' Fusion Monsters that are banished or in the Graveyard to the Extra Deck, then draw three cards. I'll return the banished Panther Predator and the Taurus Jaeger in my Graveyard to my Extra Deck.

Barrett drew and smirked before he gestured to his field. "I activate Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2's effect! I fuse Rampaging Rhynos and Repair Sentinel in my hand!" An anthropomorphic rhinoceros in blue armor appeared alongside a cylindrical white machine with several robotic arms dangling from its underside. "Rhino that charges at the enemy, merge with the medical sentinel to create a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 6! Beastborg Rhino Berserker!" The monster that emerged from the vortex at Panther Defender's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position was a gray-skinned anthropomorphic rhinoceros in blue armor that had had its right side replaced by white cybernetic parts and wielded two axes in its hands.

Beastborg Rhino Berserker ATK 2300 DEF 1500 LVL: 6

"Repair Sentinel's monster effect! If it is sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material, I can Special Summon a Beast-Warrior or Machine monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position. Resurrect, Automated Sentinel!" The gray triangular jet reappeared. "I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization and fuse Automated Sentinel on my field with Manticore of Darkness in my hand!" A lion with black wings and a scorpion's tail appeared, standing on its hind legs. It then spiraled into the Fusion vortex with the gray jet. "Beast of ruin that poisons your foes, unite with the drone that watches over its allies! Fusion Summon! Rise, Level 7! Beastborg Manticore Destroyer!" An anthropomorphic lion emerged from the vortex. Cybernetic gray armor covered its shoulders and waist, one of its black wings was mechanical, and its red scorpion tail was covered by gray armor. The lion roared, bearing its metal fangs and claws from Panther Defender's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position.

Beastborg Manticore Destroyer ATK 2400 DEF 1600 LVL: 7

Yuji grit his teeth. "Three 'Beastborg' monsters in one turn."

"You brought forth three powerful Link Monsters," Barrett said. "I saw fit to respond to that display with my own. Manticore Destroyer's monster effect! While it is on the field, my 'Beastborg' monsters gain 200 attack points for each 'Beastborg' monster I control!"

Beastborg Manticore Destroyer ATK 2400→3000

Beastborg Panther Defender ATK 1600→2200

Beastborg Rhino Berserker ATK 2300→2900

"Battle!" Barrett declared. "Rhino Berserker's monster effect! It can attack each of your Special Summoned monsters once each!" Yuji's eyes widened. "Rhino Berserker attacks Excode Talker!"

The damage will only be 100, Yuji thought.

"Panther Defender's monster effect! When my 'Beastborg' monster battles your monster, during damage calculation, your monster loses 200 attack points for each 'Beastborg' monster I control! I control three, so Excode Talker loses 600 attack points!" The panther roared and fired a beam of red light out of its shield that struck Excode Talker and made it groan.

Excode Talker ATK 2800→2200

I stand corrected, Yuji thought as he grit his teeth. "Trap activate! Doppler Phase Coating! This card is equipped to one Cyberse monster I control. I equip it to Excode Talker!" Rhino Berserker's axes struck the shields on Excode Talker's wrists. "The first time each turn the monster equipped with Doppler Phase Coating would be destroyed by battle, it is not destroyed!"

But you will take battle damage!" Yuji winced as the attack's shockwave hit him.

Yuji Kogami: 3000→2300 LP

Excode Talker ATK 2200→2800

"If I cannot destroy Excode Talker, then I will destroy your other monsters," Barrett said. "Rhino Berserker attacks Transcode Talker! At this point, Panther Defender's effect weakens Transcode Talker!"

Transcode Talker ATK 3300→2700

Rhino Berserker's axes cleaved through the orange warrior, destroying it and making Yuji wince. "As Transcode Talker left the field, Excode Talker's attack points return to normal."

Yuji Kogami: 2300→2100 LP

Excode Talker ATK 2800→2300

"Manticore Destroyer's monster effect!" Barrett declared. "When my 'Beastborg' monster destroys your monster in battle, I can target one of your monsters. That monster's effects are negated, and then it is destroyed! I target Powercode Talker!" The Fusion Monster's tail whipped out and stung Yuji's Link Monster in the chest.

"Since Powercode Talker is linked to Excode Talker, it cannot be destroyed by card effects," Yuji reminded Barrett.

"Perhaps not, but its effects can still be negated." Powercode Talker groaned as cracks spread out from where Manticore Destroyer's tail pierced its chest.

Yuji's frown deepened. Powercode Talker could Tribute a monster at its Link Marker to make its attack points double its original attack points. Even if he would have lost Excode Talker, that boost would have been enough to destroy any monster that attacked Powercode Talker. But with its effects negated…

"Rhino Berserker now attacks Powercode Talker! And Panther Defender's effect weakens your Link Monster!"

Powercode Talker ATK 2800→2200

With a roar, Rhino Berserker cleaved Powercode Talker in half, pushing Yuji back from the shockwave.

Yuji Kogami: 2100→1400 LP

"And how Manticore Destroyer attacks Excode Talker! You will not prevent its destruction this time!"

Excode Talker ATK 2300→1700

Yuji growled and leapt to the platform above him, then the one above it and reached down. He grabbed the Action Card, but grit his teeth on seeing what it was. Before he could say anything, Manticore Destroyer's tail pierced Excode Talker's chest, making the monster explode. The shockwave knocked Yuji off the platform, sending him tumbling to the ground with a yell.

Yuji Kogami: 1400→100 LP

"You put up a good fight, Yuji Kogami," Barrett told his opponent as the boy pushed himself up. "But it is over now. Once Panther Defender attacks you directly, you will lose."

Yuji looked up. "Then it's a good thing it can't. If Doppler Phase Coating is sent from the field to the Graveyard during the Battle Phase, the Battle Phase automatically ends."

Barrett blinked and then lightly smirked. "I see. You were prepared for your monster's destruction in the end. But your Life Points have been reduced to 100, so your options are limited. I Set one card. I end my turn. So tell me, Yuji Kogami; how will you overcome the obstacles in front of you?"

"The same way I always do," Yuji responded, narrowing his eyes. "By doing everything I can! My turn! Draw!"

"Continuous Trap activate!" Barrett declared. "Beastborg Medal of the Iron Shield!" The card showed a bronze five-sided medal emblazoned with a gray five-sided shield, which in turn was emblazoned with a panther's head. "This card is destroyed during the End Phase if I control no 'Beastborg' monsters. But while it is on the field, my 'Beastborg' monsters gain 200 attack points for each 'Beastborg' monster I control during the Battle Phase, the damage I take from battles involving my 'Beastborg' monsters is halved, and you can only attack with one monster during each Battle Phase."

"Only one monster huh?" Yuji repeated. "If that's the case, then my path is clear. I summon Cyberse Gadget!" The humanoid white machine reappeared.

Cyberse Gadget ATK 1400 DEF 300 LVL: 4

"Gadget's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position with its effects negated. Resurrect, Protron!" The small black-and-white monster reappeared.

Protron ATK 100 DEF 100 LVL: 1

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning condition is a Level 1 monster. I set Protron in the Link Marker!" The monster entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Linkuriboh!" A small blue mechanical monster emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone with an excited coo.

"Kuri kuri ku!"

Linkuriboh ATK 300 LINK-1 ↓

"Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I set Cyberse Gadget and Linkuriboh in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Shadeslayer!" A man in black and violet armor emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, spinning two longswords.

Shadeslayer ATK 1000 LINK-2 ↙↘

"As Cyberse Gadget was sent from the field to the Graveyard, I Special Summon a Gadget Token!" A small white monster with red prongs at its sides appeared in Defense Position.

Gadget Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 2

"If I would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Micro Coder in my hand." Yuji smirked. "And if I would use Shadeslayer to Link Summon, the Link Monster can be from the Graveyard!"

"What?" Barrett gasped.

"For a third time, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set Micro Coder and Link-2 Shadeslayer in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top, bottom, and right arrows, releasing a violet pulse. "Phantom Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Transcode Talker!" The orange-armored warrior reappeared at Yuji's far-left Main Monster Zone.

Transcode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↑↓→

"Phantom Link Summoning," Barrett repeated. "Link Summoning from the Graveyard…" He smiled to himself. "Interesting."

"Micro Coder's monster effect!" Yuji continued. "As it was used to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can add a 'Cynet' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cynet Optimization to my hand. Transcode Talker's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Link-3 or lower Cyberse Link Monster to its Link Marker. Resurrect, Code Talker!" The white-armored warrior reappeared at Transcode Talker's right Link Marker.

Code Talker ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"If I were to use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Code Generator in my hand as material. Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I set Code Generator in my hand and Link-2 Code Talker in the Link Markers!" A miniature version of Transcode Talker briefly appeared before it and Code Talker entered the top, bottom, and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Encode Talker!" A warrior in white armor with a shield in its right hand emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Encode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↑↓↘

"Cynet Codec's effect activates! I add the Light Code Encrypter to my hand. And as Code Generator was used to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster from the hand, I can send a Cyberse monster with 1200 or less attack points from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Dotscaper to the Graveyard. And if Dotscaper is sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it!" A small monster made of white and green blocks appeared in Defense Position.

Dotscaper ATK 0 DEF 2100 LVL: 1

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cynet Optimization! Once per turn, I can Normal Summon one Cyberse monster from my hand. Come, Flame Bufferlo!" A black mechanical bison with flaming horns and tail appeared.

Flame Bufferlo ATK 1400 DEF 200 LVL: 3

"If I would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Code Encrypter in my hand as material. Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I set Code Encrypter, Flame Bufferlo, and Gadget Token in the Link Markers!" A new monster appeared on Yuji's field. This one was a white-armored humanoid armed with a silver tuning fork in its right hand. That monster, Flame Bufferlo, and Gadget Token then turned into energy and entered the left, top, and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Shootingcode Talker!" A warrior in blue armor gilded in gold emerged from the portal at Encode Talker's bottom Link Marker and Transcode Talker's right Link Marker and spread its wings.

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ←↑↓

"You started this turn with no monsters, but now you have returned to three 'Code Talker' monsters again," Barrett said. "I have said it before, but you are quite skilled."

"It's too soon to be impressed," Yuji warned him. "Cynet Codec's effect activates! I add the Water Sea Archiver to my hand. Since Flame Bufferlo left the field, I can discard Clock Wyvern to draw two cards." He drew and then smirked. "And finally, Code Encrypter's effect activates! If it is sent to the Graveyard from the hand to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can banish up to three cards from your Graveyard!"

"What?" Barrett gasped. "Banish from my Graveyard?"

"Your 'Beastborg' monsters are impressive," Yuji said. "But even more impressive is their ability to bring back their materials. This makes it difficult if not impossible to wage direct attacks and makes it easier for you to Fusion Summon them again on your next turn." His eyes narrowed. "But you can only bring those monsters back if all of the materials are still in the Graveyard. If even one of them isn't…" His smirk widened. "I banish Automated Sentinel, Manticore of Darkness, and Repair Sentinel!"

Barrett grit his teeth as his monsters were banished. Now he couldn't bring them back if Manticore Destroyer or Rhino Berserker were destroyed.

"As Transcode Talker is co-linked, itself and monsters co-linked with it gain 500 attack points and cannot be targeted by your card effects."

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2300→2800

Transcode Talker ATK 2300→2800

"Battle!"

"At this point, Beastborg Medla of the Iron Shield's effect takes hold!" Barrett interrupted. "My 'Beastborg' monsters gain 200 attack points for each 'Beastborg' monster I control."

Beastborg Manticore Destroyer ATK 3000→3600

Beastborg Panther Defender ATK 2200→2800

Beastborg Rhino Berserker ATK 2900→3500

"In addition, so long as Panther Defender is on the field, you cannot target my other 'Beastborg' monsters for attacks." Barrett narrowed his eye. "Panther Defender's other effect is still active; if my 'Beastborg' monster battles, your monster loses 200 attack points for each 'Beastborg' monster I control during damage calculation. What will you do, Yuji Kogami?"

"Break your formation," Yuji said simply. "Shootingcode Talker's monster effect! During the Battle Phase, it can make attacks on your monsters up to the number of monsters it points to plus one. Shootingcode Talker points to Encode Talker and Transcode Talker, so it can make up to three attacks this turn!" The ends of a bow popped out of Shootingcode Talker's left wrist. "Shootingcode Talker attacks Panther Defender!"

"At this point, Panther Defender's effect reduces Shootingcode Talker's attack points!"

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2800→2200

A string of energy formed between the ends of the bow, and Shootingcode Talker pulled it back, creating a bolt of blue energy in the process. "Encode Talker's monster effect!" Yuji declared. "Once per turn, if a monster at its Link Marker battles your monster with higher attack points, that monster cannot be destroyed by that battle, and I take no damage from that battle." The Link Monster released the string, and the bolt impacted against Panther Defender's chest to no effect. "Then, Encode Talker or one monster linked to it gains attack points equal to your monster's attack points until the end of the turn!"

"What?" Barrett gasped.

"I increase Shootingcode Talker's attack points by Panther Defender's!"

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2200→2800→5600

"Shootingcode Talker can attack two more times! Shootingcode Talker attacks Panther Defender once more!"

"Panther Defender's monster effect!"

Shootingcode Talker ATK 5600→5000

"That's not enough!" The Link Monster pulled back its bow and then shot another bolt of blue energy. This time, the bolt pierced Panther Defender's chest and made it explode, pushing Barrett back.

Barrett: 2800→1700 LP

Shootingcode Talker ATK 5000→5600

"Due to Beastborg Medal of the Iron Shield, all battle damage I take from battles involving my 'Beastborg' monsters is halved," Barrett reminded Yuji.

"And with one less 'Beastborg' monster on the field," Yuji reminded Barrett in turn, "Manticore Destroyer's and Rhino Berserker's attack points decrease."

Beastborg Manticore Destroyer ATK 3600→3200

Beastborg Rhino Berserker ATK 3500→3100

"The third attack! Shootingcode Talker attacks Manticore Destroyer!" Barrett growled and leapt up to a platform, grabbing an Action Card of his own. "That's pointless," Yuji told him as Barrett dropped back down. "While Cynet Optimization is on the field, you cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step." Barrett's eye widened. "Shooting Complete!" Another blue bolt was shot from the Link Monster's bow. This one tore through the upright lion's chest, making it howl as it exploded. Barrett yelled as he was knocked back.

Barrett: 1700→500 LP

Beastborg Rhino Berserker ATK 3100→2500

Barrett grit his teeth. "I might not be able to activate a card during the Damage Step, but I can activate one after. I activate the Action Spell Card: Miracle Life!" The card showed a round red bottle, with light coming out of the opened top. "As my monster was destroyed by battle, I gain Life Points equal to half that monster's original attack points!"

Barrett: 500→1700 LP

"If you'll use an Action Card, then I'll use one as well," Yuji responded, holding out the Action Card he had grabbed during Barrett's turn. "I activate the Action Spell Card: Miracle Attacks!" The card showed a glowing silver sword with a black hilt. "By Tributing Dotscaper, Shootingcode Talker's maximum number of attacks this turn is increased by one!" The small monster disintegrated, and its particles turned into a bolt of energy atop the Link Monster's bow. "This means Shootingcode Talker can attack one more time. Shootingcode Talker attacks Rhino Berserker! But since you control only one monster, Shootingcode Talker's attack points are reduced by 400 during damage calculation."

Shootingcode Talker ATK 5600→5200

"Go! Shooting Complete!" Shootingcode Talker let its arrow fly, piercing the anthropomorphic rhinoceros, and making it cry out as it exploded. Barrett similarly cried out as he was knocked off his feet.

Barrett: 1700→350 LP

Shootingcode Talker ATK 5200→5600

"I activate the effect of Prohibit Snake in my Graveyard! As my Cyberse monster destroyed your monster by battle, I can banish a card from my Graveyard to add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll banish Miracle Attacks to add Prohibit Snake itself to my hand."

Barrett pushed himself to his feet with a grimace. "You tore through my formation with ease."

"I could say the same thing about you," Yuji replied. "Both of us have something to fight for that we're unwilling to compromise on."

"Indeed we do," Barrett agreed. He smiled softly. "Even if you are my enemy, I do not dislike you. Your determination and resolve are unquestionable."

"As are yours. Shootingcode Talker's monster effect! At the end of the Battle Phase, I draw cards equal to the number of monsters it destroyed by battle. It destroyed three, so I draw three cards."

Yuji drew, then held out one of them. "I activate the Spell Card: Link Spring! For each Link Monster on the field, I gain 400 Life Points. There are three Link Monsters."

Yuji Kogami: 100→1300 LP

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mystical Space Typhoon! I destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field. I'll destroy Beastborg Supply Chain!" Barrett frowned as his Continuous Spell shattered. "I Set three cards. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Encode Talker's effect ends, so Shootingcode Talker's attack points return to normal."

Shootingcode Talker ATK 5600→2800

"And since I control no 'Beastborg' monsters, Beastborg Medal of the Iron Shield is destroyed by its own effect," Barrett added, his Continuous Trap Card shattering at his words. "My Life Points are 350 and I control no monsters. The odds are against me."

"And yet you aren't disheartened by those facts," Yuji said.

…

Barrett smiled. "No, I am not. Rather, I am excited to face such a strong opponent. Soldiers like us, we give everything we are and everything we have for our duty. To be pushed in battle like this; it is, quite frankly, exhilarating."

"…I think I know what you mean," Yuji said with a soft smile of his own. "You may be my enemy, but I don't hate you. And… I think I like this duel."

Is this more of Kiryu's "satisfaction"? Yuji wondered. It wasn't a bad feeling.

"I feel the same way, but that is why I will defeat you, Yuji Kogami. There is no greater honor a soldier can give his opponent than by going all-out against them! My turn! Draw!" Barrett looked at his card and smiled before gesturing to his field. "I activate the effect of Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 to Fusion Summon a 'Beastborg' Fusion Monster!"

"You only have one card in your hand," Yuji reminded him.

"That's true. But if Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 was activated by sending Beastborg Fusioner to the Graveyard, I can also use monsters in my Graveyard as Fusion Material by banishing them!" Yuji's eyes widened. "I fuse Beast King Barbaros in my hand and banish Manticore Destroyer and Rhino Berserker from my Graveyard!" The two previously destroyed Beastborgs reappeared alongside a massive lion centaur – the lower body of a black feline and the upper body of an anthropomorphic lion – armed with a lance and shield. The three monsters then spiraled into the Fusion vortex.

"Undisputed king of the jungle, take the powers of the ultimate soldiers and use them to unleash the infinite power! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 10! Beastborg Chimera Gladiator!" The monster that emerged from the vortex had a black four-legged feline lower body, and its upper body was that of a brown muscular anthropomorphic lion. Gray, white, and black armor covered its chest and shoulders, while its legs had been replaced by gray and black metal legs with white claws. Golden fans were at its waist and neck, and a mane of golden fur flowed behind its head. The lion roared, the left half of its face replaced by cybernetics, and brandished two mechanical hands that ended in a shield and lance from the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.

Beastborg Chimera Gladiator ATK 3500 DEF 2000 LVL: 10

"Level 10?" Yuji muttered. "Is this his boss monster?"

"It has been some time since I brought Chimera Gladiator forth," Barrett said. "Consider this my acknowledgement of your strength. Chimera Gladiator's monster effect! When it is Fusion Summoned, the effects of all other face-up cards, except 'Beastborg' cards, are negated until the end of the turn!" Yuji's eyes widened as the lion roared again, sending a shockwave that turned Yuji's Continuous Spell Cards gray and made his monsters groan. "Then, Chimera Gladiator sends monsters you control to the Graveyard, up to the number of monsters that were used for its Fusion Summon. I used three, so I shall destroy Encode Talker, Shootingcode Talker, and Transcode Talker!" Yuji braced himself as the shockwave doubled in strength and blew his Link Monsters away. "Chimera Gladiator then gains 500 attack points for each monster sent to the Graveyard by its effect."

Beastborg Chimera Gladiator ATK 3500→5000

"5000 attack points?" Yuji gasped.

"That's right; this is the end, Yuji Kogami."

Yuji grit his teeth. Since Chimera Gladiator's effect sent monsters to the Graveyard, he couldn't have used Shadeslayer's effect to protect any of his monsters. "Continuous Trap activate! Call of the Haunted! I Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position. Resurrect, Decode Talker!" The violet-armored warrior reappeared, holding his sword in two hands.

Decode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

"Having a monster out won't change the end result. Battle! Chimera Gladiator attacks Decode Talker!" The massive lion centaur charged Yuji's field, wind spiraling around its lance.

"Actually, it will make all the difference in the world! I activate the effect of Prohibit Snake in my hand! When my Cyberse Link Monster battles your monster, I can discard Prohibit Snake to return your monster to your hand!" Barrett's eye widened. "This duel is mine, Barrett!"

"I'm afraid not! Chimera Gladiator's monster effect! If you activate a monster effect during the Battle Phase, I can negate the activation of that effect!" Yuji gasped. "Chimera Gladiator negated Cynet Optimization's effect, so this effect will go through. Chimera Gladiator will destroy Decode Talker and end this!"

Yuji grit his teeth. "Trap activate! Viral Enhancement!" The card showed Viral Dawn Link Dragon. Its wings folded downwards as a rig with two cannons was being lowered onto its shoulders. "This card is equipped to one Cyberse or Dragon Link Monster!" Two cannons formed on Decode Taker's shoulders. "Decode Talker cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects, and it gains attack points equal to its Link Rating times 500!"

Decode Talker ATK 2300→3800

"Go, Chimera Gladiator! Whirlwind Lance!" The lion centaur roared as it brought its lance down. Decode Talker responded by firing two beams of sapphire energy from its new shoulder cannons, but the lance pierced through the beams before continuing on to piercing Decode Talker's chest, destroying it and knocking Yuji off his feet with a yell.

Yuji Kogami: 1300→100 LP

…Barrett found himself smiling as Yuji picked himself up. "You had a contingency plan in case your first attempt failed. I honestly can't say I am surprised. As Decode Talker was destroyed, your Call of the Haunted is also destroyed. I end my turn. And with the end of my turn, Chimera Gladiator's effect ends, and your Spell Cards' effects are restored.

"Of course, even with them, the odds are against you right now. But will you allow that fact to dishearten you?"

"And yet you aren't disheartened by those facts." Yuji had said that when their positions had been reversed. And his answer was the same as Barrett's had been.

"Of course not," Yuji replied. "If I gave up now, I would insult Serena and the Lancers with my cowardice." His eyes narrowed. "Normally, I don't mind losing if there are no stakes. But even if there weren't any here… you are someone I refuse to lose against! My turn! Draw!"

Yuji drew and his eyes widened. This… could work. "I activate the Spell Card: Cynet Hard Reboot!" The card showed several computer cases all connected by green lines to a central oversized monitor that glowed with green light. "If I control no monsters, I can shuffle all Cyberse monsters in my Graveyard into my Deck, then draw until I have three cards in my hand." His eyes narrowed. "However, the turn I activate this card, I cannot conduct my Battle Phase."

"No Battle Phase?" Barrett repeated, raising his eyebrow. "Then you're committing to a gamble?"

"Yes," Yuji confirmed. "But in this situation… a gamble is all I can do! I return all Cyberse monsters in my Graveyard to my Deck and Extra Deck, then draw until I have three cards, but since I am also returning more than three 'Code Talker' monsters to my Extra Deck, I can draw until I have five cards in my hand instead!"

Yuji drew and fanned out his four new cards. His eyes widened on seeing one of them. This is-! He closed his eyes and mapped out the cards in his hand, field, and Deck. Yes! This will work! His eyes opened. "Barrett! I will win on this turn!"

"Then go ahead and prove it!" Barrett shouted back. "Show me how deep your resolve goes!"

"By discarding the Level 1 Latency, I can Special Summon Bitrooper!" A white and gold humanoid machine appeared in Attack Position, wielding a lance and energy shield.

Bitrooper ATK 1500 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"I summon ROM Cloudia!" A brown-furred ram with pink horns and tail appeared.

ROM Cloudia ATK 1800 DEF 0 LVL: 4

"ROM Cloudia's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can add a Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Latency to my hand. And since Latency was added to my hand from the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it!" A mechanical woman in pink carrying an hourglass appeared in Attack Position.

Latency ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning condition is one Level 1 monster. I set Latency in the Link Marker!" The monster entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Linkuriboh!" The small blue monster emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone and cooed.

"Kuri kuri ku!"

Linkuriboh ATK 300 LINK-1 ↓

"Latency's monster effect! If it used as Link Material and was Special Summoned by its effect, I can draw a card!" Yuji drew then gestured to the field. "Again, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Effect Monsters. I set Bitrooper and Linkuriboh in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Code Talker!" A warrior in white armor emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, swinging a white longsword.

Code Talker ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"Cynet Codec's effect activates! As a 'Code Talker' monster was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can add a Cyberse monster with the same Attribute from my Deck to my hand. I'll add the Dark Micro Coder to my hand."

"And if you would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster," Barrett remembered, "you can use Micro Coder in your hand."

"That's right. For a third time, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I set Micro Coder from my hand and Link-2 Code Talker from my field in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top, bottom, and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Encode Talker!" A white-armored warrior with gold trimming emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, a shield in its right hand.

Encode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↑↓↘

"As Micro Coder was used to Link Summon Encode Talker, I can add a 'Cynet' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cynet Defrag to my hand. And with Cynet Codec's effect, I'll add the Light Lady Debug to my hand." Yuji gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cynet Cascade! Since I Link Summoned, I can Special Summon one of its materials from the Graveyard. Resurrect, Code Talker!" The smaller, white-armored warrior reappeared.

Code Talker ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"For the fourth time, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set ROM Cloudia and Link-2 Code Talker in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top, bottom, and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Transcode Talker!" The orange-armored warrior reappeared at Encode Talker's bottom Link Marker.

Transcode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↑↓→

"With Cynet Codec's effect, I add the Earth Code Generator to my hand, and while Transcode Talker is co-linked, itself and monsters co-linked with it gain 500 attack points and cannot be targeted by your card effects."

Encode Talker ATK 2300→2800

Transcode Talker ATK 2300→2800

"Transcode Talker's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Link-3 or lower Cyberse Link Monster from my Graveyard to its Link Marker. Resurrect, Code Talker!" The Link Monster reappeared at Transcode Talker's right Link Marker.

Code Talker ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"I activate the effect of Sea Archiver in my hand! Since a monster was Normal or Special Summoned to a Link Monster's Link Marker, I can Special Summon it!" A white mechanical seahorse appeared in Defense Position.

Sea Archiver ATK 300 DEF 2100 LVL: 3

"And now you will use Code Talker and Sea Archiver to Link Summon?" Barrett asked.

"Not quite." Barrett raised an eyebrow at Yuji's smirk. "I think that first, I'll get rid of your Chimera Gladiator. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Successor Soul! I Tribute an Effect Monster, and then I can target one of your effect monsters and send it to the Graveyard!"

"What?" Barrett gasped.

"Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 only protects your 'Beastborg' monsters from destruction effects," Yuji reminded his opponent. "This effect doesn't destroy, so you can't stop it! I Tribute Code Talker to send Chimera Gladiator to the Graveyard!" Code Talker disintegrated, and its particles entered Successor Soul. The Spell Card fired a beam of blue lightning at Chimera Gladiator, making it cry out before it disintegrated. "Successor Soul's effect then lets me Special Summon a Level 7 or higher Normal Monster from my hand or Deck. From my Deck, I Special Summon Suppression Collider!" A white-haired man in green and yellow armor appeared in Attack Position, swinging a hammer as large as him.

Suppression Collider ATK 2800 DEF 2600 LVL: 8

"You exploited a loophole in my protection," Barrett said. "Ingenious, but you are mistaken if you thought I was not prepared for this eventuality. I activate the effect of Chimera Gladiator in the Graveyard! If it is sent there by your card, I can banish a 'Beastborg' monster from my Graveyard or return a banished 'Beastborg' monster to my Extra Deck to Special Summon Chimera Gladiator. I'll return the banished Manticore Destroyer to my Extra Deck to resurrect Chimera Gladiator!" The lion centaur reappeared and roared in Attack Position.

Beastborg Chimera Gladiator ATK 3500 DEF 2000 LVL: 10

"In the end, all you managed to do was weaken my monster," Barrett continued. "And even if you had succeeded in keeping it in the Graveyard, you cannot conduct your Battle Phase this turn. Your efforts were wasted."

"You're wrong; they were not wasted." Barrett blinked at Yuji's words. "The point wasn't to get rid of your monster. It was to get it out of the Extra Monster Zone."

"The Extra Monster Zone?" Barrett repeated. "Why would you want it empty?"

"To win," Yuji answered. "If I would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use Code Generator in my hand. Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are three monsters. I set Code Generator in my hand, and Sea Archiver and Suppression Collider on my field in the Link Markers!" The three monsters entered the left, bottom-left, and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Powercode Talker!" The red-armored warrior reappeared at Transcode Talker's right Link Marker.

Powercode Talker ATK 2300→2800 LINK-3 ←↙→

"Since Sea Archiver was Special Summoned by its own effect, it is banished as it left the field. And when Code Generator is used to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can send a Cyberse monster with 1200 or less attack points from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Proxy Horse to the Graveyard. Finally, Cynet Codec's effect activates, and I add the Fire Degrade Buster from my Deck to my hand."

Yuji gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Cynet Optimization to Normal Summon one Cyberse monster. I summon Lady Debug!" A mechanical humanoid ladybug appeared and winked at Barrett.

Lady Debug ATK 1700 DEF 1400 LVL: 4

"Lady Debug's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can add a Level 3 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Swap Cleric to my hand. I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cynet Defrag, which Special Summons a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position and equips itself to it. I Special Summon Proxy Horse!" A white and dark blue robotic equine appeared, two blue curved horns at the back of its head.

Proxy Horse ATK 1100 DEF 1100 LVL: 4

"Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future!" Yuji smirked. "Proxy Horse's monster effect! If I would use it to Link Summon a Cyberse monster, I can also use a Cyberse monster in my hand!"

Barrett's eye widened. A reverse Micro Coder?

"I set Lady Debug and Proxy Horse on my field and Swap Cleric in my hand in the Link Markers!" A metal humanoid with no legs, wearing a dark blue cloak and hat and wielding a staff, briefly appeared before it and the aforementioned two monsters entered the left, top, and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Excode Talker!" The green armored warrior reappeared at Powercode Talker's right Link Marker.

Excode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ←↑→

"Cynet Codec's effect activates, and I add the Wind Code Exporter from my Deck to my hand. And since Swap Cleric was sent to the Graveyard as Link Material, I can reduce Excode Talker's attack points by 500 to draw one card!"

Excode Talker ATK 2300→1800

"Excode Talker's monster effect! Grasp Zone!" The Link Monster threw a sphere of green energy at Barrett's center-right Main Monster Zone, rendering it unusable. "Monsters linked to Excode Talker cannot be destroyed by card effects and gain 500 attack points."

Powercode Talker ATK 2800→3300

"What is he going for?" Barrett wondered aloud. "He's summoned four 'Code Talker' Link Monsters, but he cannot battle this turn. Is he setting up for his next turn?" And what did he mean by wanting the second Extra Monster Zone clear?

"I activate the effect of Degrade Buster in my hand! By banishing Lady Debug and Proxy Horse from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Degrade Buster!" A giant in red-and-white armor appeared in Attack Position.

Degrade Buster ATK 2500 DEF 2500 LVL: 7

"And I can Special Summon Link Infra-Flier from my hand to Excode Talker's Link Marker via its own effect!" A gray and blue metal kite appeared at Excode Talker's right Link Marker in Defense Position.

Link Infra-Flier ATK 0→500 DEF 1800 LVL: 2

"If I would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a 'Code Talker' monster, I can use code Exporter in my hand as material."

"What are you trying to do, Yuji Kogami?" Barrett asked. "No matter how many times you Link Summon, you cannot attack this turn!"

"Who said anything about attacking? Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I set Degrade Buster, Link Infra-Flier, and Code Exporter in the Link Markers!" A green mechanical griffin appeared before it and the former two monsters entered the left, top, and bottom arrows. The portal lit up, making Barrett gasped.

"Normally, a player can only control one Extra Monster Zone," Yuji said. "But if the two Extra Monster Zones are co-linked, a monster can be Special Summoned to the other Extra Monster Zone!" Barrett's eye widened. "Appear! Link-3! Shootingcode Talker!" The blue armored warrior emerged from the portal and spread his wings from Excode Talker's top Link Marker and the right Extra Monster Zone.

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2300→2800 LINK-3 ←↑↓

"With this, I have created the Extra Link!" Yuji declared.

"Extra Link?" Barrett gasped. "Five Link-3 monsters… all in one turn…" He found himself smiling. "Impressive. Very impressive, Yuji Kogami."

"Since I used Code Exporter to Link summon Shootingcode Talker, I can add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Latency to my hand. And with Cynet Codec's effect, I'll add the Water Code Radiator to my hand."

"Why would you create a formation like this?" Barrett demanded to know. "Impressive as it is, it is costly. And as you cannot perform your Battle Phase this turn, what point is there in summoning all your 'Code Talker' monsters?"

"There are two points," Yuji said. "The first… I guess you could consider it a sign of respect. The last person I used this formation against was Reiji Akaba. The second reason… is so I can use this." Yuji revealed a card in his hand. "I activate the Spell Card: Code Breakdown!" The card showed all six Code Talker monsters flying in formation, each glowing the color of their Attributes. "This card can only be activated if I control two or more Extra Linked 'Code Talker' monsters. Now, you take 800 points of damage for each 'Code Talker' monster I control!"

"What?" Barrett gasped.

"If I cannot defeat you through battle, then I will defeat you through effects!" Yuji declared. His five Code Talkers leapt into the air and formed a star, with each glowing a different color. "I control five 'Code Talker' monsters, so you'll take 4000 points of damage!"

Barrett grit his teeth, then spun around and dashed at the ground. He somersaulted and when he came upright, an Action Card was in his hand. "Action Spell Card-!"

"That won't work," Yuji interrupted. "If I control five or more 'Code Talker' monsters, you cannot activate cards or effects in response to Code Breakdown's activation." Barrett gasped. "You aren't escaping this, Barrett. This is the end."

Energy traveled outwards from the Code Talkers, taking the form of a star that constantly shifted between red, orange, green, yellow, and blue. The center of the star glowed even more fiercely before a multicolored beam of light shot out. The beam struck Barrett, enveloping him as he was knocked off his feet with a yell.

Barrett: 350→0 LP

The Academia commander's back hit the ground with a thump and a groan. Barrett blinked and looked up at the sky. "So…I lost. In the end, despite promising the Professor that I would succeed, I failed."

"Yes, you did fail," Yuji said, walking up to the man's side and standing over him. "But you performed to the best of your abilities. There are some who would say there is honor in that."

"…Perhaps." Barrett closed his eye. "When the Professor first came to Academia, he put me in charge of Serena's care. I watched her grow up and chafe at the restrictions that were placed on her. Restrictions meant to protect her, but she didn't care about that. When she demanded to go to the Standard Dimension, I obeyed because I thought my presence would mean there was no real danger to her. And because I failed, she was placed in grave danger in the Synchro Dimension."

"Considering that failure allowed me to meet Serena, I cannot say I feel sorry for you," Yuji said. "If things had been different, perhaps she would have been an enemy. But to me, she is a comrade. And… a friend. I would not change that."

"…Then perhaps some good came from my mistakes," Barrett said with a soft smile as he opened his eye. "I do not approve of Serena being Academia's enemy. But if nothing else, I am glad that she found people who care so much about her." He looked up at Yuji. "Take care of Serena."

"And why are you talking like that?" Yuji asked.

Barrett kept smiling but closed his eye. "I shamed myself when I failed to protect Serena in Standard. I shamed myself further when I failed to bring her back in Synchro. The Professor… no, Leo, didn't hold my failures against me, but I have. To return to Academia now, in shame of yet another failure… That is something that I cannot accept."

Barrett raised his Duel Disk and pressed a button. Yuji gasped and stepped back, raising his arm to cover his eyes as a bright light erupted from it.

"Farewell, Yuji Kogami," Barrett whispered as his body glowed. "You were my greatest and most worthy opponent."

When the light finally faded, Yuji lowered his arm and gasped. Barrett was gone. All that was left was a card. He grimaced, picked it up, then turned it over. It was Barrett, his eye closed and a smile on his face.

"…How wasteful," Yuji said. Even if he had lost, Barrett was still a skilled soldier. Carding himself like this would only hurt Academia.

And yet… Yuji could understand to a degree, that what Barrett had done hadn't been done with pragmatism in mind. He had done it for himself. For his honor and pride.

Yuji shook his head. Now that the duel was over, he had to get things back on track. And that meant following-

He blinked when he looked up. Smoke? But it was closer than the smoke he and Serena had seen…

Yuji tensed. "Serena!" He ran towards the smoke, his chest tight with dread.

---

"It doesn't matter who you are, or what titles you have," Serena declared. "I will not lose to you, Kaiser Ryo! My turn! Draw!"

His Cyber Twin Dragon has 3600 attack points. But that can change in an instant. "I activate the effect of Lunalight Hunting Dance! I return Reincarnation Dance from my Graveyard to my Deck to add Lunalight Hunting Grounds to my hand. I activate the Field Spell Card: Lunalight Hunting Grounds! If I control a level 7 or higher 'Lunalight' monster during the Battle Phase, you cannot activate cards or effects."

Ryo narrowed his eyes. "I activate Hunting Grounds' effect! Once per turn, I can discard one card, then draw one card. If that card is a 'Lunalight' card, I can reveal it to draw again." Serena discarded and drew, then turned it around. "I drew Lunalight Purple Butterfly, so I draw again!" Serena drew and smirked. "I activate the effect of the Lunalight Crimson Fox that I discarded! If it is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can target one monster you control and change its attack points to 0 until the end of the turn! I target Cyber Twin Dragon!"

Cyber Twin Dragon ATK 3600→0

Ryo showed no outward reaction to his monster weakening. "I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization! I fuse Cat Dancer on my field with Lunalight Purple Butterfly in my hand! The beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! Butterfly that wields violet poison! Swarm in the vortex of the moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Elegant beast dancing on the moonlit wilderness! Lunalight Panther Dancer!" A woman with maroon skin, wearing a violet corset and a pink skirt, emerged from the vortex in Attack Position and fanned her extended claws.

Lunalight Panther Dancer ATK 2800 DEF 2500 LVL: 8

Panther Dancer can attack twice, Serena thought, and the first attack won't destroy Cyber Twin Dragon. Two attacks will be all it takes to end this.

"Trap activate!" Ryo declared, surprising Serena. "Cybernetic Disposal!" The card showed a hole in a digital space, with various machine parts falling into it. "If you Special Summon a monster, I can target that monster and send it to the Graveyard. And since I control a Level 8 Machine Fusion Monster, you cannot activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation. I send Panther Dancer to the Graveyard!"

Serena grit her teeth as her Fusion Monster vanished. "You were prepared for that?"

"I researched your known strategies before coming to Heartland, yes," Ryo answered. "You're fairly consistent in your dueling. It gives you a good foundation, but also makes you predictable."

"…You aren't the first person to tell me that," Serena replied. "But you will be the latest to see how my dueling has evolved! I activate the effect of Yellow Marten in my Graveyard! I can target and return a 'Lunalight' card on my field to the hand to Special Summon Yellow Marten, but it will be banished when it leaves the field. I return Hunting Hance to my hand to Special Summon Yellow Marten!" A yellow-skinned blonde girl with a tail and animal ears appeared in Defense Position, wearing a pink dress.

Lunalight Yellow Marten ATK 800 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Lunalight Hunting Dance. Next, I'll summon Lunalight Azure Falcon!" A teenage girl with bright blue skin appeared, wearing a leotard made of dark blue feathers. She spread her arms, revealing wings made of the same material and shade of blue. Darker blue sandals covered her feet, and a golden mask covered her left eye.

Lunalight Azure Falcon ATK 600 DEF 1100 LVL: 4

"Azure Falcon's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Ritual Summon a 'Lunalight' Ritual Monster by Tributing monsters from my hand or field!"

"What?" Ryo blinked. "Ritual Summoning? With a monster effect?"

"I Tribute Level 4 Azure Falcon and Level 4 Yellow Marten to Ritual Summon!" A white brazier appeared before Serena's two monsters turned into blue flames. The flames leapt into the brazier and then spiraled upwards. "Born in the moon's gravity, the fastest champion ascends! Ritual Summon! Appear, Level 8! Lunalight Leopard Dancer!" A golden-skinned woman with black-and-blonde frizzy hair emerged from the flames in Attack Position, wearing a black leotard and wielding a curved saber and oval shield.

Lunalight Leopard Dancer ATK 2600 DEF 2200 LVL: 8

Ryo narrowed his eyes. "So this is the evolution you've gained away from Academia."

"Since Yellow Marten was Special Summoned by its own effect, it is banished when it leaves the field. And as Azure Falcon was sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can target a 'Lunalight' monster from my field or Graveyard and gain Life Points equal to its Level times 100. I target the Level 8 Panther Dancer in my Graveyard."

Serena: 2000→2800 LP

"I activate the effect of Lunalight Hunting Grounds! Once per turn, I can target a Special Summoned monster, and until the end of the turn, that monster gains 200 attack points for each 'Lunalight' monster in my Graveyard and is unaffected by my opponent's card effects. I target Leopard Dancer!"

Lunalight Leopard Dancer ATK 2600→3800

Ryo frowned as he looked at Leopard Dancer's effects. Inflicts damage equal to the original attack points of the monster it destroys by battle huh? And negates one effect per turn? He smiled softly. It was an impressive monster. A pity he had a way out of this.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cyber Amplification!" Ryo declared. The card showed a golden mechanical four-winged bird attached to the front of a three-headed mechanical dragon. "Until the end of the next turn, one of my Machine monsters has its attack points become equal to double its original attack points. I target Cyber Twin Dragon!"

"That's pointless!" Serena declared. "Leopard Dancer's monster effect! By returning the Fusion Monster Lunalight Cat Dancer to my Extra Deck, the activation of your Spell Card is negated!" The Ritual Monster spun and sent a slash of wind through Ryo's card, shattering it.

Lunalight Leopard Dancer ATK 3800→3600

"Even with less attack points, Leopard Dancer will deal 3600 points of damage when it attacks Cyber Twin Dragon," Serena said. "And with its effect, your Life Points will drop to 0. It's over, Kaiser! Battle! As I control a Level 7 or higher 'Lunalight' monster, Hunting Grounds' effect keeps you from activating cards or effects during the Battle Phase. Leopard Dancer attacks Cyber Twin Dragon! Full Moon Saber!"

The Ritual Monster leapt into the air and somersaulted as her sword glowed. At the apex of her jump, she swung her sword down, and as she fell, she cleaved Cyber Twin Dragon in two. The mechanical dragon erupted in a massive explosion that swept over an unfazed Ryo.

Serena smirked. She had been right about adding Ritual Summoning to her arsenal; its unexpected nature gave her the element of surprise.

"Sorry, but no dice." Serena gasped as the smoke faded, revealing an unhurt Ryo. "If I would take battle damage from a battle involving my Machine monster, I can banish Cyber Amplification from my Graveyard instead."

The girl grit her teeth. "Even if you dodge the battle damage, you cannot dodge the effect damage! Leopard Dancer's additional effect! When it destroys a monster by battle, you take damage equal to that monster's original attack points!" Leopard Dancer swung her sword and sent a wave of light at Ryo. Ryo raised his arms and braced himself. The wave struck him and sent him skidding back with a grunt.

Ryo Marufuji: 4000→1200 LP

When the wave dissipated, Ryo lowered his arms with a small smile. "You managed to damage me. Not bad. But you may find a second attempt to be much harder."

Serena's scowl widened. Did nothing faze this guy? He wasn't like Yuri had been when the latter had fought Yuji; he wasn't cruel or taking pleasure in her frustration and pain. He was calm and stoic, but not like Yuji or Kurosaki; there was no apathy or ruthlessness there. Just… just confidence. Confidence that his victory was a certainty.

Serena very much looked forward to proving that confidence misplaced.

"I end my turn. During the End Phase, Leopard Dancer's attack points return to normal."

Lunalight Leopard Dancer ATK 3600→2600

"My turn! Draw!" Ryo looked at his card, then at Serena's field, a calculating look in his eye. Hunting Grounds kept him from activating cards or effects during the Battle Phase, Hunting Dance protected her monsters from destruction by card effects, and Leopard Dancer could negate one effect per turn.

It would be best if Ryo removed those obstacles first.

"I activate the Spell Card: Heavy Storm!" he declared. "This destroys all Spell and Trap Cards on the field!"

Wind started to whip around the field as Serena grit her teeth. This was obviously a trap; that card would destroy Ryo's own Continuous Spell Card too. But she couldn't afford to lose Hunting Dance and Hunting Grounds. Ryo had given her no choice.

"Leopard Dancer's monster effect! I return Panther Dancer from my Graveyard to my Extra Deck to negate Heavy Storm's activation!" The Ritual Monster's shield glowed before it released a pulse of white light, making the wind dissipate. "I activate Hunting Grounds' effect and target Leopard Dancer! For the rest of the turn, it gains 200 attack points for each 'Lunalight' monster in my Graveyard and is unaffected by your card effects!"

Lunalight Leopard Dancer ATK 2600→3400

"You acted to protect your cards," Ryo said. "But it was only a temporary measure. I activate the effect of Cyber Dragon Core in my Graveyard! If you are the only one who controls a monster, I can banish Core to Special summon a 'Cyber Dragon' monster from my Deck. Come, Cyber Dragon Nachster!" A small serpentine white metal dragon appeared in Defense Position, blue spots on its body and wings on its back.

Cyber Dragon Nachster ATK 200 DEF 200 LVL: 1

"Nachster's monster effect! If it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Machine monster with 2100 attack or defense points from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Cyber Dragon!" The original metal dragon reappeared in Attack Position.

Cyber Dragon ATK 2100 DEF 1600 LVL: 5

"I Normal Summon Cyber Dragon Aufwind!" The metal dragon that appeared had a serpentine steel-colored body, with green hexagons running up and down its sides. Its plates were layered like dragon scales, and its jawless head had two green eyes.

Cyber Dragon Aufwind ATK 1600 DEF 1100 LVL: 4

"Aufwind's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can excavate the top three cards of my Deck, then add one Spell or Trap Card among them to my hand while shuffling the rest back into my Deck." Ryo picked up three cards and looked at them. "I'll add Super Strident Blaze to my hand." He put the cards back in his Deck, then gestured to his field. "I activate Cyberload Factory's first effect! I fuse Cyber Dragon, Aufwind, and Nachster! And while Aufwind and Nachster are on the field, their names become Cyber Dragon!

"Three mechanical dragons who create a new infinity, merge your power into the ultimate machine! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 10! Cyber End Dragon!" A massive three-headed silver mechanical dragon emerged from the Fusion vortex and spread its wings with a roar in Attack Position.

Cyber End Dragon ATK 4000 DEF 2800 LVL: 10

Ryo smirked. "I activate the effect of Cyber Dragon Aufwind! When it is used as material for a Machine Fusion Monster, I can target and destroy up to two Spell or Trap Cards you control!" Serena's eyes widened. "I destroy Hunting Dance and Hunting Grounds!" Serena's Continuous Spell and Field Spell shattered.

The girl scowled. Ryo had used Heavy Storm to make her use up Leopard Dancer's effect, and he had done so knowing he had another option to destroy her cards. He had read her like a book.

"I activate Cyberload Factory's second effect and target Cyber End Dragon! Until my next Standby Phase, Cyber End Dragon gains 800 attack points!"

Cyber End Dragon ATK 4000→4800

"I activate the Equip Spell Card: Super Strident Blaze and equip it to Cyber End Dragon. While this card is on the field, you cannot activate cards or effects during my Battle Phase." Serena grit her teeth. "Battle! Cyber End Dragon attacks Leopard Dancer! Eternal Evolution Burst!" The dragon's three heads lit up and gathered light in their mouths.

Serena reached for her Duel Disk but suddenly hesitated. Ryo had already tricked her into wasting Leopard Dancer's effect. Was it possible…?

The dragon's heads fired their attacks, sending three streams of white light at Serena's Ritual Monster. Leopard Dancer cried out as she exploded, and Serena cried out as she was knocked backwards into a wall. She hit it with a cry of pain before falling to her knees.

Serena: 2800→1400 LP

Serena gasped for breath as she looked up at a surprised Ryo. She grit her teeth.

"So… you were hoping I would use Aegis Dancer's effect."

"…Yes, I was." Ryo gave a half-smile, clearly amused and impressed. "Your Aegis Dancer can prevent a 'Lunalight' monster's destruction by banishing itself from the Graveyard. And if the monster equipped with Super Strident Blaze attacks your monster, I can banish a 'Cyber Dragon' monster from my Graveyard to allow Cyber End Dragon to attack your monster again in a row."

"If I had used Aegis Dancer's effect to prevent Leopard Dancer's destruction, you would have been able to use Super Strident Blaze's effect to attack again, and reduce my Life Points to 0," Serena surmised. "But that effect only allows Cyber End Dragon to attack my monsters, not me directly. Since Leopard Dancer was destroyed and I control no monsters, you cannot use it."

"I cannot, no," Ryo admitted easily. "Your instincts served you well in this instance. I Set one card. I end my turn."

Even if I managed to survive, I am at a disadvantage, Serena thought. His Cyber End Dragon has 4800 attack points, and there's no telling what his face-down card can do. She grit her teeth. But I won't give up now! I am a Lancer! All I can do is give it my all!

"My turn! Draw! I summon Lunalight Emerald Bird!" A blue-green skinned girl wearing an orange leotard and two teal wings at her sides appeared.

Lunalight Emerald Bird ATK 1200 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"Emerald Bird's monster effect! If it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can discard a 'Lunalight' card to draw one card." Serena discarded and then drew. Looking at her card, the gears in her head turned. With this… Yes, this would work!

"I activate the effect of the Lunalight Gold Caracal that I discarded! When it is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can Special Summon a 'Lunalight' monster from my Graveyard. I resurrect Lunalight Crimson Fox!" The pink-skinned girl in a red leotard reappeared in Attack Position.

Lunalight Crimson Fox ATK 1800 DEF 600 LVL: 4

"And now, using the Level 4 Lunalight Crimson Fox and Lunalight Emerald Bird, I build the Overlay Network!" Serena declared.

"What?" Ryo's eyes widened as the galaxy portal formed in front of Serena. Her monsters turned into violet energy and entered the portal, which shot out a beam of light. "Xyz Summoning?"

"Elegant beast that stalks her prey in the forest! Dance in the moonlight and unveil your power!" Serena chanted. "Xyz Summon! Come forth, Rank 4! Lunalight Puma Dancer!" A woman with tawny skin and red spots on her exposed shoulders emerged from the portal. She wore a sleeveless red dress with a white skirt and light blue fingerless gloves, while her red hair with white streaks was tied up in twin tails and a gold crescent mask covered her right eye, leaving her black left eye exposed. She wore white high-heeled boots and in her hands, she held two crescent disks with sharpened edges. The woman winked as two violet lights circled her and she posed in Attack Position.

Lunalight Puma Dancer ATK 2200 DEF 1800 RNK: 4 OU: 2

"Xyz Summoning," Ryo muttered again. "You learned not only Ritual Summoning, but Xyz Summoning too?" He then smiled. "Unexpected. And interesting."

"Puma Dancer's monster effect!" Serena declared. "I detach one Overlay Unit to add a 'Polymerization' Spell or 'Lunalight' card from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand!" One of the circling lights hit Puma Dancer's left crescent blade and winked out.

Lunalight Puma Dancer OU: 2→1

"From my Deck, I add Lunalight Fusion to my hand." Serena smirked. "I activate the Spell Card: Lunalight Fusion! I Fusion Summon a 'Lunalight' Fusion Monster using monsters from my hand and field as material. And since you control a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can also use a 'Lunalight' monster from my Deck or Extra Deck as material!" Ryo's eyes widened again. "I fuse Puma Dancer on my field with a second Yellow Marten in my hand and Lunalight Panther Dancer in my Extra Deck!" The latter two monsters reappeared before spiraling into the Fusion vortex with Puma Dancer. "The dazzling beast that roams the forest! The yellow beast that hunts by the moonlight! Elegant beast dancing on the moonlit wilderness! Swarm in a vortex of the moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! The king of beasts dancing atop the summit of the moonlight wilderness! Lunalight Leo Dancer!" A violet-skinned white-haired woman in red and gold emerged from the vortex in Attack Position, swinging a curved sword.

Lunalight Leo Dancer ATK 3500 DEF 3000 LVL: 10

"You used your Xyz Monster to bring out a Fusion Monster," Ryo said. His eyes narrowed. "That was on purpose."

"Of course it was," Serena said. "Once, I believed in the superiority of Fusion Summoning. That the dueling I was taught was the correct way to fight. But traveling with the Lancers, seeing how so many fought with so many different methods, I realized that I was being naïve." Her eyes narrowed. "It doesn't matter what summoning method you use or what dueling you believe in; what matters is what you use it for! And I will use my dueling, the culmination of my time as a Lancer, to fight for my comrades and friends!

"The effect of Puma Dancer activates! Since it was used to Fusion Summon a 'Lunalight' monster, I can send one monster you control to the Graveyard!" Ryo's eyes widened again. "I send Cyber End Dragon to the Graveyard!" An apparition of Puma Dancer reappeared and spun, its disc blades creating a tawny tornado. The tornado tore through Ryo's Fusion Monster, making it explode and leaving him defenseless. "Puma Dancer's effect isn't the only one that activates. Since the Yellow Marten in my hand was sent to the Graveyard by Lunalight Fusion's effect, I can add a 'Lunalight' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add the Equip Spell Card: Lunalight Halberd to my hand, then activate it and equip it to Leo Dancer!"

A new weapon appeared in Leo Dancer's left hand. It was a long black pole gilded in gold, with the blade at its end being a golden crescent blade. "While Leo Dancer is equipped with Lunalight Halberd, it gains 800 attack points!"

Lunalight Leo Dancer ATK 3500→4300

"This is it, Ryo Marufuji!" Serena declared. "Leo Dancer cannot be targeted by, and is unaffected by, your card effects! You won't be able to stop this attack! Leo Dancer attacks you directly!" The woman leapt into the air and spun, her sword and spear trailing white light. She yelled and then unleashed an "X" of white light from her weapons at Ryo.

"Don't be so presumptuous," Ryo told Serena. "Trap activate! Power Wall! If I would take battle damage from your attacking monster, I can send one card from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard for every 500 points of damage that I would take instead! I would take 4300, so I send the top nine cards of my Deck to the Graveyard!" He pulled the said nine cards out and tossed them into the air. The cards stayed there and blocked Serena's Fusion Monster's attack with a barrier. Once the light faded, the cards fell on the ground.

Serena grit her teeth. "Even if you prevented the damage, Leo Dancer can make a second attack during the Battle Phase. You have no other Set cards, so you can't block this."

"You'll find that I can," Ryo said, picking up his newly discarded cards and revealing one of them. "Since Cyber Alrakis was sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can Special Summon it!" A massive dragon head made of silver metal appeared on Ryo's field in Defense Position, with yellow eyes and a blue gem in its forehead.

Cyber Alrakis ATK 1200 DEF 1800 LVL: 3

"That won't help either!" Serena declared. "Leo Dancer's monster effect! After the damage calculation of its first attack, all monsters you control are destroyed!" Leo Dancer spun her weapons again and sent another wave of white light at Ryo's field.

"Cyber Alrakis' monster effect!" Ryo declared. "The first time each turn it would be destroyed by battle or card effect, it isn't destroyed!" A blue barrier formed around the dragon head, blocking the light.

Serena growled. "Leo Dancer's second attack! Destroy Alrakis!" The woman cartwheeled in the air and brought her sword and spear down, cutting the dragon head in half. It exploded, but when the smoke cleared, Ryo was unharmed but clearly amused.

"Your tenacity continues to surprise me," he said. "Were you facing any other opponent, save perhaps Yuri, your victory would be almost certain. But against me…"

"I don't really care for whatever compliments you have for me," Serena said. "I activate the effect of Lunalight Halberd! If the monster equipped with it destroys your monster in battle, I can add a 'Lunalight' card from my Deck to my hand." She took the single card from her Deck and then played it. "I Set one card. I end my turn."

"Then I believe it's time for me to end this," Ryo said. "You fought valiantly Serena. If the Lancers are the ones who pushed you to become as strong as you have, then perhaps the Professor was right to label them the greatest danger to the Arc Area Project."

Serena smirked. "On that, I agree with the Professor. The Lancers, or rather Reiji, Yuya, and Yuji will absolutely defeat Academia! Even if you manage to defeat me, they'll bring Academia down. But I don't intend to lose. Yuji and Kurosaki have friends that were taken by Academia; I will help them rescue them!"

"That won't be happening," Ryo denied. "But if the Lancers do come to Academia… then perhaps I'll find a challenge worth my time. My turn! Draw!" He looked at his card and smiled. "I activate the effect of Cyber Alrakis in the Graveyard! By banishing it, I can add a 'Cyber' card from my Deck to my hand. The card I'll add, and then activate, is the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cybernetic Fusion Support! I pay half my Life Points, and once this turn, if I would Fusion Summon a Machine Fusion Monster, I can banish monsters from my hand, field, and Graveyard as the Fusion Materials."

Ryo Marufuji: 1200→600 LP

"I activate the effect of Cyberload Factory to Fusion Summon a Machine Fusion Monster!"

"Are you trying to bring out a second Cyber End Dragon?" Serena asked. Core, Nachster, and the original Cyber Dragon were in Ryo's Graveyard, and the former two had effects that treated them as Cyber Dragon in the Graveyard.

"I am not," Ryo said, surprising Serena. "Cyber Alrakis was not the only monster sent to the Graveyard by Power Wall's effect. It also happened to send these five monsters to the Graveyard!"

Five cards appeared on Ryo's field before taking the shapes of monsters. A thin black dragon, a brown dragon's head with fangs and claws on the sides, a set of black wings, a set of dark green claws, and a burgundy-colored serpent with prongs at its front and back.

"I banish Cyberdark Cannon, Cyberdark Claw, Cyberdark Edge, Cyberdark Horn, and Cyberdark Keel from my Graveyard to Fusion Summon!" Ryo declared. The five monsters spiraled into the Fusion vortex. "Fragments of the underworld's power, unite to bring forth the dark machine that embodies man's evil! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 10! Cyberdarkness Dragon!" A massive dragon emerged from the vortex. Physically, it was a combination of its five materials, with Horn as its head, Keel as its body, Edge as its wings, Cannon morphed into a blaster on its back, and Claw on its underside. The dragon roared in Attack Position, making Serena brace herself.

Cyberdarkness Dragon ATK 2000 DEF 2000 LVL: 10

"He Fusion Summoned using monsters from his Graveyard," Serena muttered. Then she blinked. "It's Level 10 and required five monsters, but its attack points are 2000? But kind of effect does it have then?"

"One to defeat you," Ryo told her. "Cyberdarkness Dragon's monster effect! When it is Special Summoned, I can equip a Dragon or Machine monster from my Graveyard to it. I equip Cyber End Dragon to Cyberdarkness Dragon!" The three-headed mechanical dragon reappeared, only to be trapped against Cyberdarkness Dragon's body by the latter's claws. "Cyberdarkness Dragon then gains attack points equal to the original attack points of Cyber End Dragon!"

Cyberdarkness Dragon ATK 2000→6000

Serena's eyes widened. "6-6000 attack points!?"

"Yes. This duel is over, Serena. Battle! Cyberdarkness Dragon attacks Lunalight Leo Dancer! Infinite Darkness Burst!" The cannon on the dragon's back fired a beam of red and black energy at Serena's Fusion Monster.

The girl in question smirked. "The effect of Aegis Dancer in my Graveyard! If my 'Lunalight' monster would be destroyed by battle, I can banish Aegis Dancer instead!"

"But you will still take the damage," Ryo reminded her.

"Are you sure about that?" Ryo blinked at Serena's confident reply. "Lunalight Halberd's effect! The first time each turn I would take battle or effect damage, I do not take damage!" A spectral Aegis Dancer appeared in front of Leo Dancer and interlocked her shields. Behind her, Leo Dancer raised her pole weapon, which emitted a white barrier in front of Serena. The dual-colored beam struck Aegis Dancer's shields, and while the monster struggled, she held firm. Parts of the beam tried to move past the shields to hit Serena, but the barrier created by Leo Dancer deflected it. By the time the beam died down, the ground on either side of Serena was scorched, but a circle around her and her Fusion Monster had been left untouched.

Ryo smiled. "So you had a way to prevent the damage and your monster's destruction. Not bad."

"I have more than that," Serena replied. "I have the means to my victory! Trap activate! Lunalight Destruction Dance!" The card showed Lunalight Panther Dancer darting in and around Ancient Gear Golem, her claws taking chunks out of its sides. "As my 'Lunalight' monster battled your monster, I can target one monster you control, destroy it, and then inflict damage equal to its original attack points!" Serena smirked. "Cyberdarkness Dragon's original attack points are 2000! With this, you lose, Kaiser Ryo!" The Trap Card fired a beam of white light at Ryo's Fusion Monster.

"…How naïve."

Serena blinked as Ryo gestured to his field. "Cyberdarkness Dragon's additional effect! When you activate a card or effect, I can send an Equip Card to the Graveyard to negate that effect and destroy that card! I send Cyber End Dragon to the Graveyard to negate Lunalight Destruction Dance's effect!" The three-headed dragon broke apart while Cyberdarkness Dragon roared. The soundwave hit the beam of light, making it dissipate.

Cyberdarkness Dragon ATK 6000→2000

Serena stared before she grit her teeth. "So you were prepared for that. But you paid a hefty cost for it; with Cyber End Dragon no longer equipped to it, Cyberdarkness Dragon's attack points have returned to normal. On my turn, Leo Dancer just needs to attack Cyberdarkness Dragon, and I'll win."

"Then I think it will be in my best interests to trade for a new dragon," Ryo said, holding up the only card in his hand. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cybernetic Conversion!" The card showed a battered Cyber End Dragon exploding, but in the background, a large serpentine metal dragon with blue hexagons all over its body was rising with a roar. "I Tribute a Machine Fusion Monster to Special Summon a different Machine Fusion Monster from my Graveyard with the same Level. I Tribute Level 10 Cyberdarkness Dragon to Special Summon Cyber End Dragon!" The amalgamated dragon broke apart, only for its particles to reassemble into the three-headed mechanical dragon, which roared in Attack Position.

Cyber End Dragon ATK 4000 DEF 2800 LVL: 10

"During the End Phase of the turn Cybernetic Conversion is activated, I take damage equal to Cyber End Dragon's original attack points," Ryo said before smirking. "But in exchange, Cyber End Dragon gains attack points equal to its original attack points!" Serena gasped as the dragon's three heads roared anew.

Cyber End Dragon ATK 4000→8000

Serena stared wide-eyed at the monster and its master. "I…I can't…"

Ryo smiled softly. "You fought well, Serena. You have brought pride and honor to the Lancers. But now… our duel is over. Cyber End Dragon attacks Leo Dancer! Eternal Evolution Burst!"

The three dragon heads charged white electricity in their maws before firing three beams of white light at Serena's field. The energy consumed Leo Dancer and then moved onto Serena, who couldn't help but scream as she was sent flying.

Serena: 1400→0 LP

Serena landed painfully on her back with a gasp. She gasped for breath as her eyes struggled to stay open. "I… I lost. I… I'm sorry, Yuji."

Ryo walked up to the downed girl. "You're tougher than you look if you're still conscious. But it seems you can't move anymore." He frowned. "I do apologize for this, but I have orders." He picked the girl up and then slung her over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.

"SERENA!"

The girl looked up and gasped. "Yuji…?"

The boy had turned the corner and finally caught up to her. His eyes were wide as he took the scene in: a wrecked street, Serena covered in bruises, slung over the shoulders of a man in black with an Academia Duel Disk.

Ryo smiled. "So you defeated Barrett, hmm? As interesting as dueling you would be, I've achieved what I came here for."

No!" Yuji shouted, charging forward as Ryo reached over and pressed a button on his Duel Disk. The boy ran closer, his eyes never leaving Serena's as hers and Ryo's bodies turned blue.

"Yuji… I'm sorry."

Yuji reached out to grab Ryo's lapel… only for his hand to clench on nothing but air as the alumni broke apart. The Link duelist stared as the blue particles vanished, the sign that Ryo and Serena had left Heartland behind.

"Take care of Serena."

Yuji stared ahead as his fist shook. He clenched his teeth before letting his frustration out in a scream.

"GAAAAAAHHHHH!"

---

Yuji Kogami vs. Barrett

This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel. At the start of the Duel, the Field Spell Card Crossover is activated, as per the rules of an Action Duel. It will allow the players to use Action Cards, but they may only have one in their hand at a time.

Turn 1: Barrett

Barrett activates the Continuous Spell Card Beastborg Fusioner. He cannot Normal Summon/Set, but once per turn, he can Fusion Summon 1 "Beastborg" Fusion Monster from his Extra Deck, using monsters from his hand or field as Fusion Materials. He fuses Dark Sentinel and Panther Warrior in his hand to Fusion Summon Beastborg Panther Predator (1600/2000/6) to the left Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Barrett activates Panther Predator's effect to inflict damage to Yuji equal to half of Panther Predator's ATK (Yuji Kogami: 4000→3200 LP). Barrett Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 2: Yuji Kogami

Yuji draws. He Normal Summons Draconnet (1400/1200/3). As Draconnet was Normal Summoned, Yuji can Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower Normal Monster from his hand or Deck in Defense Position. He Special Summons Protron (100/100/1) from his Deck. As he controls a Cyberse monster, Yuji Special Summons Backup Secretary (1200/800/3) in Attack Position. If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Micro Coder in his hand as material. Yuji uses Backup Secretary, Draconnet, and Micro Coder in his hand to Link Summon Decode Talker (2300/3/↙↑↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Micro Coder was used to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can add 1 "Cynet" Spell/Trap Card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cynet Conflict from his Deck to his hand. As a monster from the Extra Deck was Special Summoned to Yuji's field, Barrett activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Beastborg Medal of the Crimson Chain, targeting Decode Talker. As Barrett activated a card or effect that targeted a card he controls, Yuji activates Decode Talker's effect, Tributing Protron at its Link Marker to negate the activation of Beastborg Medal of the Crimson Chain and destroy it. Yuji Special Summons Link Infra-Flier (0/1800/2) to Decode Talker's bottom-right Link Marker in Defense Position via its effect. Decode Talker gains 500 ATK for each monster it points to (Decode Talker: 2300→2800).

Decode Talker attacks and destroys Panther Predator (Barrett: 4000→2800 LP). As Panther Predator was destroyed by battle and its Fusion Materials are in the GY, Barrett can Special Summon them. He Special Summons Dark Sentinel (1500/1800/4) and Panther Warrior (2000/1600/4) in Defense Position. Yuji Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 3: Barrett

Barrett draws. He activates Beastborg Fusioner's effect, fusing Dark Sentinel and Panther Warrior to Fusion Summon Beastborg Panther Predator (1600/2000/6) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Barrett attempts to activate Panther Predator's effect, but as Barrett activated a monster effect while he controls a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji activates his Set Counter Trap Card Cynet Conflict, negating the activation of Panther Predator's effect, then banishing it. Until the end of the next turn, Barrett cannot activate cards or the effects of cards with the same original name as Panther Predator. Barrett activates the Continuous Spell Card Beastborg Supply Chain. Once per turn, if he controls no monsters or the only monsters he controls are "Beastborg" monsters, Barrett can shuffle up to 2 Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters in his GY into his Deck, then add an equal number of Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters with different names from his Deck to his hand, but for the rest of the turn, he can only Special Summon "Beastborg" monsters from the Extra Deck. Barrett shuffles Dark Sentinel and Panther Warrior into his Deck to add Sentinel Supplier and Abare Ushioni to his hand. Barrett activates the effect of Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 in his hand, sending Beastborg Fusioner from his field to the GY to activate it. Barrett activates Beastborg Fusioner Mk .2's effect to Fusion Summon 1 "Beastborg" Fusion Monster from his Extra Deck, using monsters from his hand or field as material. He fuses Abare Ushioni and Sentinel Supplier in his hand to Fusion Summon Beastborg Taurus Jaeger (2500/1200/6) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. As Sentinel Supplier was sent to the GY as Fusion Material, Barrett can add 1 Machine monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Automated Sentinel to his hand. Barrett activates Taurus Jaeger's effect to target 1 monster Yuji controls and negate its effects and reduce its ATK by 800. He targets Decode Talker, but Yuji chains Decode Talker's effect, Tributing Link Infra-Flier (Decode Talker: 2800→2300) to negate Taurus Jaeger's effect and destroy it. Taurus Jaeger's effect is negated, but while Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 is on the field, Barrett's "Beastborg" monsters cannot be destroyed by card effects.

Taurus Jaeger attacks and destroys Decode Talker (Yuji: 3200→3000 LP). Barrett ends his turn.

Turn 4: Yuji Kogami

Yuji draws. He Normal Summons Cyberse Gadget (1400/300/4). As Gadget was Normal Summoned, Yuji can Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower monster from his GY in Defense Position with its effects negated. He Special Summons Micro Coder (300/0/1). Yuji activates the Continuous Spell Card Cynet Codec. If a "Code Talker" monster is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck to his field, Yuji can add 1 Cyberse monster with the same Attribute from his Deck to his hand. He uses Gadget and Micro Coder to Link Summon Code Talker (1300/2/↑↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Gadget was sent from the field to the GY, Yuji Special Summons 1 Gadget Token (0/0/2) in Defense Position. As Micro Coder was sent from the field to the GY to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can add 1 Level 4 Cyberse monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Code Radiator to his hand. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Dark SIMM Tablir from his Deck to his hand. If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Code Radiator in his hand. Yuji uses Code Radiator in his hand and Link-2 Code Talker to Link Summon Transcode Talker (2300/3/↑↓→) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Code Radiator was sent from the hand to the GY to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can target 1 face-up monster Barrett controls and change its ATK to 0 and negate its effects. He targets Taurus Jaeger (Taurus Jaeger: 2500→0). Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Earth Code Generator from his Deck to his hand. Yuji activates Transcode Talker's effect to Special Summon 1 Link-3 or lower Cyberse Link Monster from his GY to its Link Marker. He Special Summons Code Talker (1300/2/↑↓). While Transcode Talker is co-linked, itself and monsters co-linked with it gain 500 ATK and cannot be targeted by Barrett's card effects (Code Talker: 1300→1800) (Transcode Talker: 2300→2800). Code Talker gains 500 ATK for each monster it points to (Code Talker: 1800→2300). If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Code Generator in his hand as material. He uses Code Generator in his hand and Link-2 Code Talker to Link Summon Excode Talker (2300→2800/3/←↑→) to Transcode Talker's bottom Link Marker. As Code Generator was sent from the hand to the GY to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can send 1 Cyberse monster with 1200 or less ATK from his Deck to the GY. He sends Prohibit Snake to the GY. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Wind Code Exporter from his Deck to his hand. As Excode Talker was Link Summoned, Yuji can choose unused Main Monster Zones equal to the number of monsters currently in the Extra Monster Zones, and while Excode Talker is on the field, those zones cannot be used. He chooses Barrett's center-left and center-right Main Monster Zones. Monsters linked to Excode Talker gain 500 ATK and cannot be destroyed by card effects (Transcode Talker: 2800→3300). Yuji activates the effect of SIMM Tablir in his hand, revealing it and targeting Cyberse Gadget in his GY. SIMM Tablir is Special Summoned to the linked Excode Talker's left Link Marker (0→500/1800/5) in Defense Position, and Cyberse Gadget is returned to Yuji's hand. If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Code Exporter in his hand. Yuji uses Code Exporter in his hand, Gadget Token, and SIMM Tablir to Link Summon Powercode Talker (2300→2800/3/←↙→) to Excode Talker's right Link Marker. As Code Exporter was used as material to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can add 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from his GY to his hand. He adds Micro Coder to his hand. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Fire Flame Bufferlo to his hand.

Transcode Talker attacks Taurus Jaeger. As his Machine monster was attacked, Barrett activates the effect of Automated Sentinel in his hand, discarding it to take no damage from this battle. Taurus Jaeger is destroyed, but Barrett takes no damage. As Taurus Jaeger was destroyed by battle, Barrett Special Summons Abare Ushioni (1200/1200/4) and Sentinel Supplier (1200/1700/4) from his GY in Defense Position via its effect. As Yuji's Cyberse monster destroyed Barrett's monster by battle, he activates the effect of Prohibit Snake in his GY, banishing Cynet Conflict to add 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from his GY to his hand. He adds Code Generator to his hand. Excode Talker attacks and destroys Abare Ushioni. Powercode Talker attacks and destroys Sentinel Supplier. Yuji Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 5: Barrett

Barrett draws. As it is the only card in his hand, Barrett Special Summons Carrier Sentinel (1000/1600/4) in Attack Position. As Carrier Sentinel was Summoned, Barrett can add 1 Beast-Warrior monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Panther Warrior to his hand. Barrett Normal Summons Panther Warrior. Barrett uses Carrier Sentinel and Panther Warrior to Link Summon Beastborg Panther Defender (1600/2/↙↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Panther Defender was Link Summoned, Barrett can add 1 "Beastborg" Spell/Trap Card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Beastborg Recall to his hand. Barrett activates the effect of Beastborg Supply Chain, returning Abare Ushioni and Sentinel Supplier from his GY to his Deck to add Rampaging Rhynos and Repair Sentinel from his Deck to his hand. Barrett activates the Spell Card Beastborg Recall, which lets him return 2 "Beastborg" Fusion Monsters that are banished and/or in his GY to his Extra Deck, then draw 3 cards. He returns the banished Panther Predator and Taurus Jaeger in his GY to his Extra Deck, then draws. Barrett activates the effect of Beastborg Fusioner Mk. II, fusing Rampaging Rhynos and Repair Sentinel in his hand to Fusion Summon Beastborg Rhino Berserker (2300/1500/6) to Panther Defender's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position. As Repair Sentinel was sent to the GY as Fusion Material, Barrett can Special Summon 1 Beast-Warrior or Machine monster from his GY in Defense Position. He Special Summons Automated Sentinel (1600/2000/5). Barrett activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Automated Sentinel on his field with Manticore of Darkness in his hand to Fusion Summon Beastborg Manticore Destroyer (2400/1600/7) to Panther Defender's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position. While Manticore Destroyer is on the field, Barrett's "Beastborg" monsters gain 200 ATK for each "Beastborg" monster he controls (Manticore Destroyer: 2400→3000) (Panther Defender: 1600→2200) (Rhino Berserker: 2300→2900).

Rhino Berserker can attack all Special Summoned monsters Yuji controls once each. Rhino Berserker attacks Excode Talker. When Barrett's "Beastborg" monster battles Yuji's monster, Panther Defender's effect reduces Yuji's monster's ATK by the number of "Beastborg" monsters Barrett controls x 200 during damage calculation (Excode Talker: 2800→2200). Yuji activates his Set Trap Card Doppler Phase Coating, targeting Excode Talker. Doppler Phase Coating is equipped to Excode Talker, and the first time each turn Excode Talker would be destroyed by battle, it is not destroyed. The attack continues, but Excode Talker isn't destroyed (Yuji: 3000→2300 LP) (Excode Talker: 2200→2800). Rhino Berserker attacks Transcode Talker (Transcode Talker: 3300→2700). Transcode Talker is destroyed (Yuji: 2300→2100 LP) (Excode Talker: 2800→2300). As Barrett's "Beastborg" monster destroyed a monster by battle, Barrett activates Manticore Destroyer's effect to target 1 face-up monster Yuji controls and negate its effects, then destroy it. He targets and negates Powercode Talker's effects, but Excode Talker's effect prevents Powercode Talker from being destroyed. Rhino Berserker attacks Powercode Talker (Powercode Talker: 2800→2200). Powercode Talker is destroyed (Yuji: 2100→1400 LP). Manticore Destroyer attacks Excode Talker (Excode Talker: 2300→1700). Yuji finds an Action Card. Excode Talker is destroyed (Yuji: 1400→100 LP). As Doppler Phase Coating was sent from the field to the GY during the Battle Phase, the Battle Phase ends. Barrett Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 6: Yuji Kogami

Yuji draws. Barrett activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Beastborg Medal of the Iron Shield. All battle damage he takes from battles involving his "Beastborg" monsters is halved, his "Beastborg" monsters gain 200 ATK for each "Beastborg" monster he controls during the Battle Phase, and Yuji can only attack with 1 monster each Battle Phase. Yuji Normal Summons Cyberse Gadget (1400/300/4). As Cyberse Gadget was Normal Summoned, Yuji can Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower monster from his GY in Defense Position with its effects negated. He Special Summons Protron (100/100/1). Yuji uses Protron to Link Summon Linkuriboh (300/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. He uses Cyberse Gadget and Linkuriboh to Link Summon Shadeslayer (1000/2/↙↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Cyberse Gadget was sent from the field to the GY, Yuji Special Summons 1 Gadget Token (0/0/2) in Defense Position. If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Micro Coder in his hand as material, and if Yuji would use Shadeslayer as Link Material, the Link Monster can be in the GY. Yuji uses Micro Coder in his hand and Link-2 Shadeslayer to Phantom Link Summon Transcode Talker (2300/3/↑↓→) to his far-left Main Monster Zone. As Micro Coder was sent from the hand to the GY to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can add 1 "Cynet" Spell/Trap from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cynet Optimization to his hand. Yuji activates Transcode Talker's effect to Special Summon Code Talker (1300/2/↑↓) from his GY to Transcode Talker's right Link Marker. If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Code Generator in his hand as material. He uses Code Generator in his hand and Link-2 Code Talker to Link Summon Encode Talker (2300/3/↑↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Light Code Encrypter from his Deck to his hand. As Code Generator was sent from the hand to the GY to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can send 1 Cyberse monster with 1200 or less ATK from his Deck to the GY. He sends Dotscaper to the GY. As Dotscaper was sent to the GY, its effect Special Summons itself (0/2100/1) in Defense Position. Yuji activates the Continuous Spell Card Cynet Optimization. He activates its effect to Normal Summon 1 Cyberse monster. He Normal Summons Flame Bufferlo (1400/200/3). If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Code Encrypter in his hand as material. Yuji uses Code Encrypter in his hand and Flame Bufferlo and Gadget Token on his field to Link Summon Shootingcode Talker (2300/3/←↑↓) to Encode Talker's bottom Link Marker and Transcode Talker's right Link Marker. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Water Sea Archiver from his Deck to his hand. As Flame Bufferlo left the field, Yuji discards Clock Wyvern and draws 2 cards. As Code Encrypter was sent from the hand to the GY to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can target up to 3 cards in Barrett's GY and banish them. He targets Automated Sentinel, Manticore of Darkness, and Repair Sentinel and banishes them. While Transcode Talker is co-linked, itself and monsters co-linked with it gain 500 ATK and cannot be targeted by Barrett's card effects (Shootingcode Talker: 2300→2800) (Transcode Talker: 2300→2800).

During the Battle Phase, Beastborg Medal of the Iron Shield increases the ATK of Barrett's "Beastborg" monsters by 200 for each "Beastborg" monster he controls (Manticore Destroyer: 3000→3600) (Panther Defender: 2200→2800) (Rhino Berserker: 2900→3500). At the start of the Battle Phase, Yuji activates Shootingcode Talker's effect to make attacks on Barrett's monsters, up to the number of monsters Shootingcode Talker points to +1, but if it attacks Barrett's only monster, it loses 400 ATK during that damage calculation only. It points to Encode Talker and Transcode Talker, so it can make up to 3 attacks on Barrett's monsters. While Panther Defender is on the field, Yuji cannot target Barret's "Beastborg" monsters for attacks, except Panther Defender. Shootingcode Talker attacks Panther Defender, with Panther Defender's effect reducing Shootingcode Talker's ATK by the number of "Beastborg" monsters Barrett controls x 200 during damage calculation only (Shootingcode Talker: 2800→2200). As Yuji's monster linked to Encode Talker is battling Barrett's monster with higher ATK, Encode Talker's effect prevents Shootingcode Talker's destruction by battle and prevents Yuji from taking battle damage. After damage calculation, Shootingcode Talker then gains ATK equal to Panther Defender's ATK until the end of the turn (Shootingcode Talker: 2200→2800→5600). Shootingcode Talker attacks Panther Defender (Shootingcode Talker: 5600→5000). Panther Defender is destroyed (Barrett: 2800→1700 LP) (Shootingcode Talker: 5000→5600) (Manticore Destroyer: 3600→3200) (Rhino Berserker: 3500→3100). Shootingcode Talker attacks Manticore Destroyer. Barrett finds an Action Card. Manticore Destroyer is destroyed (Barrett: 1700→500 LP) (Rhino Berserker: 3100→2500). As his monster was destroyed by battle, Barrett activates the Action Spell Card Miracle Life, which increases his LP by half his monster's original ATK (Barrett: 500→1700 LP). Yuji activates the Action Spell Card Miracle Attacks, Tributing Dotscaper and targeting Shootingcode Talker. During this Battle Phase, Shootingcode Talker's maximum number of attacks becomes equal to its current number of maximum attacks +1. Shootingcode Talker attacks Rhino Berserker (Shootingcode Talker: 5600→5200). Rhino Berserker is destroyed (Barrett: 1700→350 LP) (Shootingcode Talker: 5200→5600). As Yuji's Cyberse monster destroyed a monster by battle and sent it to the GY, Yuji activates Prohibit Snake's effect in his GY, banishing Miracle Attacks from his GY to add Prohibit Snake to his hand. At the end of the Battle Phase, Shootingcode Talker's effect lets Yuji draw cards equal to the number of monsters it destroyed by battle this turn. Yuji draws 3 cards. Yuji activates the Spell Card Link Spring, which lets him gain 400 LP for each Link Monster on the field (Yuji: 100→1300 LP). Yuji activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Mystical Space Typhoon, which lets him destroy 1 Spell/Trap on the field. He destroys Beastborg Supply Chain. Yuji Sets 3 cards (Call of the Haunted, Cynet Cascade, Viral Enhancement). He ends his turn. During the End Phase, Beastborg Medal of the Iron Shield is destroyed by its own effect and Encode Talker's effect ends (Shootingcode Talker: 5600→2800).

Turn 7: Barrett

Barrett draws. He activates the effect of Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 to Fusion Summon 1 "Beastborg" monster, and as Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 was activated by sending Beastborg Fusioner to the GY, Barrett can also banish monsters from his GY as Fusion Material. Barrett fuses Beast King Barbaros in his hand and banishes Manticore Destroyer and Rhino Berserker from his GY to Fusion Summon Beastborg Chimera Gladiator (3500/2000/10) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. As Chimera Gladiator was Fusion Summoned, the effects of all face-up cards currently on the field, except "Beastborg" cards, are negated until the end of the turn, then Barrett can destroy monsters Yuji controls, up to the number of monsters used as Fusion Material, then gain 500 ATK for each destroyed monster. Barrett destroys Encode Talker, Shootingcode Talker, and Transcode Talker (Chimera Gladiator: 3500→5000). Yuji activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Call of the Haunted, targeting Decode Talker in his GY and Special Summoning it (2300/3/↙↑↘).

Chimera Gladiator attacks Decode Talker. As his Cyberse Link Monster is battling Barrett's monster, Yuji activates the effect of Prohibit Snake in his hand, sending it to the GY to return Chimera Gladiator to Barrett's Extra Deck. As Yuji activated a monster effect during the Battle Phase, Barrett activates Chimera Gladiator's effect to negate the activation of Prohibit Snake's effect. Yuji activates his Set Trap Card Viral Enhancement, targeting Decode Talker and equipping it. Decode Talker cannot be targeted or destroyed by Barrett's card effects, and it gains ATK equal to its Link Rating x 500 (Decode Talker: 2300→3800). The attack continues and Decode Talker is destroyed (Yuji: 1300→100 LP). As the targeted monster was destroyed, Call of the Haunted is destroyed. Barrett ends his turn, and Cynet Codec's and Cynet Optimization's effects are restored.

Turn 8: Yuji Kogami

Yuji draws. As he controls no monsters, he activates the Spell Card Cynet Hard Reboot, which lets him shuffle all Cyberse monsters in his GY into his Deck, then draw until he has 3 cards in his hand, but he cannot conduct his Battle Phase this turn. If he returns 3 or more "Code Talker" monsters to his Extra Deck, he can draw until he has 5 cards instead. Yuji shuffles all the Cyberse monsters in his GY into his Deck and Extra Deck, then draws until he has 5 cards in his hand. By discarding Latency, Yuji Special Summons Bitrooper (1500/2000/4) in Attack Position. Yuji Normal Summons ROM Cloudia (1800/0/4). As ROM Cloudia was Normal Summoned, Yuji can add 1 Cyberse monster from his GY to his hand. He adds Latency to his hand. As Latency was added to his hand from the GY, it is Special Summoned (0/0/1) in Attack Position via its effect. Yuji uses Latency to Link Summon Linkuriboh (300/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. As the Special Summoned Latency was sent to the GY as Link Material, Yuji draws 1 card. Yuji uses Bitrooper and Linkuriboh to Link Summon Code Talker (1300/2/↑↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Dark Micro Coder from his Deck to his hand. If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Micro Coder in his hand. He uses Micro Coder in his hand and Link-2 Code Talker to Link Summon Encode Talker (2300/3/↑↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Micro Coder's effect activates, and Yuji adds Cynet Defrag to his hand. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Light Lady Debug to his hand. As he Link Summoned a Link Monster, Yuji activates his Set Trap Card Cynet Cascade, which lets him Special Summon 1 monster from his GY that was used as its material. He Special Summons Code Talker (1300/2/↑↓). Yuji uses ROM Cloudia and Link-2 Code Talker to Link Summon Transcode Talker (2300/3/↑↓→) to Encode Talker's bottom Link Marker. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Earth Code Generator from his Deck to his hand. While Transcode Talker is co-linked, itself and monsters co-linked with it gain 500 ATK and cannot be targeted by Barrett's card effects (Encode Talker: 2300→2800) (Transcode Talker: 2300→2800). Yuji activates Transcode Talker's effect to Special Summon 1 Link-3 or lower Cyberse Link Monster from his GY to its Link Marker. He Special Summons Code Talker (1300/2/↑↓) to Transcode Talker's right Link Marker. As a monster was Normal or Special Summoned to Yuji's monster's Link Marker, he Special Summons Sea Archiver (300/2100/3) from his hand in Defense Position. Yuji activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Successor Soul, which lets him Tribute 1 Effect Monster, then target 1 Effect Monster Barrett controls. He Tributes Code Talker and targets Chimera Gladiator. Chimera Gladiator is sent to the GY, then Yuji can Special Summon 1 Level 7 or higher Normal Monster from his hand or Deck. He Special Summons Suppression Collider (2800/2600/8) from his Deck in Attack Position. As Chimera Gladiator was sent to the GY by Yuji's card, Barrett activates its effect to return the banished Manticore Destroyer to his Extra Deck to Special Summon Chimera Gladiator (3500/2000/10) in Attack Position.

If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Code Generator in his hand as material. Yuji uses Sea Archiver, Suppression Collider, and Code Generator in his hand to Link Summon Powercode Talker (2300→2800/3/←↙→) to Transcode Talker's right Link Marker. As the Special Summoned Sea Archiver left the field, it is banished by its effect. Code Generator's effect activates, and Yuji sends Proxy Horse from his Deck to the GY. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Fire Degrade Buster from his Deck to his hand. Yuji activates the effect of Cynet Optimization to Normal Summon 1 Cyberse monster. He Normal Summons Lady Debug (1700/1400/4). As Lady Debug was Normal Summoned, Yuji can add 1 Level 3 or lower Cyberse monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Swap Cleric to his hand. Yuji activates the Equip Spell Card Cynet Defrag, which lets him Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from his GY in Defense Position and equip Cynet Defrag to it. He Special Summons Proxy Horse (1100/1100/4). If Yuji would use Proxy Horse as Link Material for a Cyberse monster, he can also use 1 Cyberse monster in his hand as material. Yuji uses Lady Debug, Proxy Horse, and Swap Cleric in his hand to Link Summon Excode Talker (2300/3/←↑→) to Powercode Talker's right Link Marker. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Wind Code Exporter from his Deck to his hand. As Swap Cleric was sent to the GY as Link Material, its effect activates, and Excode Talker loses 500 ATK (Excode Talker: 2300→1800), but Yuji can draw 1 card. As Excode Talker was Link Summoned, its effect activates, and Yuji chooses Barrett's center-right Main Monster Zone. While Excode Talker is on the field, that zone cannot be used. Monsters linked to Excode Talker gain 500 ATK and cannot be destroyed by card effects (Powercode Talker: 2800→3300). Yuji activates the effect of Degrade Buster in his hand, banishing Lady Debug and Proxy Horse from his GY to Special Summon it (2500/2500/7) in Attack Position. Yuji Special Summons Link Infra-Flier (0→500/1800/2) to Excode Talker's right Link Marker in Defense Position via its effect. If Yuji would use a Cyberse monster to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, he can use Code Exporter in his hand as material. Yuji uses Degrade Buster, Link Infra-Flier, and Code Exporter in his hand to Link Summon Shootingcode Talker (2300→2800/3/←↑↓) to the second Extra Monster Zone, creating an Extra Link. As Code Exporter was sent from the hand to the GY to Link Summon a "Code Talker" monster, Yuji can add 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from his GY to his hand. He adds Latency to his hand. Cynet Codec's effect activates, and Yuji adds the Water Code Radiator to his hand.

As Yuji controls 2 or more Extra Linked "Code Talker" monsters, he activates the Spell Card Code Breakdown, which inflicts 800 damage to Barrett for each "Code Talker" monster Yuji controls. Barrett finds and attempts to activate an Action Card, but as Yuji controls 5 or more "Code Talker" monsters, Barrett cannot activate cards or effects in response to Code Breakdown's activation. Code Breakdown's effect resolves (Barrett: 350→0 LP). Yuji wins.

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Serena vs. Ryo Marufuji

At the start of the Duel, the Field Spell Card Crossover is activated, as per the rules of an Action Duel. It will allow the players to use Action Cards, but they may only have one in their hand at a time.

Turn 1: Serena

Serena Normal Summons Lunalight Black Sheep (100/600/2). She activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Black Sheep on her field with Lunalight Yellow Marten in her hand to Fusion Summon Lunalight Cat Dancer (2400/2000/7) in Attack Position. As Black Sheep was sent from Serena's field to the GY as Fusion Material, it is returned to Serena's hand. As Yellow Marten was sent to the GY by a card effect, Serena can add 1 "Lunalight" Spell/Trap Card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Lunalight Hunting Dance from her Deck to her hand. Serena activates the Continuous Spell Card Lunalight Hunting Dance. While Hunting Dance is on the field, Serena's "Lunalight" monsters cannot be destroyed by Ryo's card effects. Serena activates the Spell Card Fusion Recovery, which lets her add 1 Polymerization and 1 monster that was used as Fusion Material from her GY to her hand. She adds Polymerization and Yellow Marten to her hand. Serena activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Black Sheep and Yellow Marten in her hand to Fusion Summon Lunalight Aegis Dancer (1800/2600/7) in Defense Position. While Aegis Dancer is on the field, Ryo's monsters cannot attack Serena's other "Lunalight" monsters, and he cannot target her other "Lunalight" monsters with card effects. Serena activates Hunting Dance's 1st effect to target and return 1 "Lunalight" card that is banished or in her GY to her Deck, then add 1 "Lunalight" card with a different original name from her Deck to her hand. She returns Black Sheep to her Deck and adds Lunalight Reincarnation Dance to her hand. Serena Sets 1 card. She ends her turn.

Turn 2: Ryo Marufuji

Ryo draws. As only Serena controls a monster, he Special Summons Cyber Dragon (2100/1600/5) from his hand in Attack Position. Ryo Normal Summon Cyber Dragon Core (400/1500/2). As Core was Normal Summoned, Ryo can add 1 "Cyber" Spell/Trap from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyberload Factory to his hand. Ryo activates the Continuous Spell Card Cyberload Factory. While Cyberload Factory is on the field, the activation of Ryo's cards and effects that would Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster cannot be negated, and Serena cannot activate cards or effects when he performs a Fusion Summon. He activates its 1st effect to Fusion Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster using monsters from his hand or field as material. Ryo fuses Cyber Dragon and Cyber Dragon Core treated as Cyber Dragon via its effect to Fusion Summon Cyber Twin Dragon (2800/2100/8) in Attack Position. Ryo activates Cyberload Factory's 2nd effect, targeting Cyber Twin Dragon. Until his next Standby Phase, Cyber Twin Dragon gains 800 ATK and if it attacks Serena's Defense Position monster, it inflicts piercing battle damage (Cyber Twin Dragon: 2800→3600).

Cyber Twin Dragon attacks Aegis Dancer. The first time each turn Aegis Dancer would be destroyed by battle or card effect each turn, it is not destroyed (Serena: 4000→3000 LP). Cyber Twin Dragon can make a second attack during each Battle Phase. Cyber Twin Dragon attacks and destroys Aegis Dancer (Serena: 3000→2000 LP). As Serena's "Lunalight" Fusion Monster was destroyed, she activates her Set Trap Card Lunalight Reincarnation Dance, which lets her add 2 "Lunalight" monsters from her Deck to her hand. She adds Lunalight Azure Falcon and Lunalight Crimson Fox to her hand. Ryo Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn.

Turn 3: Serena

Serena draws. She activates Hunting Dance's effect, returning Reincarnation Dance in her GY to her Deck, then adding Lunalight Hunting Grounds from her Deck to her hand. Serena activates the Field Spell Card Lunalight Hunting Grounds. She activates Hunting Grounds' effect to discard 1 card, then draw 1 card, and if that card is a "Lunalight" card, she can reveal it to draw a 2nd card. She discards Crimson Fox and draws, then reveals Lunalight Purple Butterfly to draw again. As Crimson Fox was sent to the GY by a card effect, Serena can target 1 face-up monster Ryo controls and change its ATK to 0 until the end of the turn. She targets Cyber Twin Dragon (Cyber Twin Dragon: 3600→0). Serena activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Cat Dancer on her field with Lunalight Purple Butterfly in her hand to Fusion Summon Lunalight Panther Dancer (2800/2500/8) in Attack Position. As Serena Special Summoned a monster, Ryo activates his Set Trap Card Cybernetic Disposal, which lets him target that monster, then send it to the GY, and as he controls a Level 8 or higher Machine Fusion Monster, Serena cannot activate cards or effects in response to the card's activation. He sends Panther Dancer to the GY. Serena activates the effect of Yellow Marten in her GY, targeting Hunting Dance. Hunting Dance returns to her hand, and Yellow Marten is Special Summoned (800/2000/4) in Defense Position. Serena activates the Continuous Spell Card Lunalight Hunting Dance. She Normal Summons Lunalight Azure Falcon (600/1100/4). Serena activates Azure Falcon's effect to Ritual Summon 1 "Lunalight" Ritual Monster from her hand by Tributing monsters from her hand or field whose combined Levels equal or exceed the Ritual Monster's. She Tributes Level 4 Azure Falcon and Level 4 Yellow Marten to Ritual Summon Lunalight Leopard Dancer (2600/2200/8) in Attack Position. As the Special Summoned Yellow Marten left the field, it is banished. As Azure Falcon was sent to the GY by a card effect, Serena can target 1 "Lunalight" monster on her field or in her GY, then gain LP equal to its Level x 100. She targets Level 8 Panther Dancer (Serena: 2000→2800 LP). Serena activates the effect of Hunting Grounds, targeting Leopard Dancer. Until the end of the turn, Leopard Dancer is unaffected by Ryo's card effects and gains 200 ATK for each "Lunalight" monster in Serena's GY (Leopard Dancer: 2600→3800). Ryo activates his Set Quick-Play Spell Card Cyber Amplification, targeting Cyber End Dragon and attempting to make its ATK equal to double its original ATK until the end of the next turn. As Ryo activated a card or effect, Serena activates Leopard Dancer's effect to shuffle 1 "Lunalight" Fusion Monster in her GY into her Extra Deck to negate Cyber Amplification's effect. She shuffles Cat Dancer into her Extra Deck (Leopard Dancer: 3800→3600).

As Serena controls a Level 7 or higher "Lunalight" monster, Hunting Grounds' effect prevents Ryo from activating cards or effects during the Battle Phase. Leopard Dancer attacks and destroys Cyber Twin Dragon, but as Ryo would take battle damage from a battle involving his Machine monster, he banishes Cyber Amplification from his GY instead. As Leopard Dancer destroyed a monster by battle, Ryo takes damage equal to that monster's original ATK (Ryo: 4000→1200 LP). Serena ends her turn, and Hunting Grounds' effect ends (Leopard Dancer: 3600→2600).

Turn 4: Ryo

Ryo draws. He activates the Spell Card Heavy Storm, which would destroy all Spell/Trap Cards on the field. Serena chains the effect of Leopard Dancer, returning Panther Dancer to her Extra Deck to negate Heavy Storm's activation. Serena activates the effect of Hunting Grounds, targeting Leopard Dancer (Leopard Dancer: 2600→3400). As only Serena controls a monster, Ryo activates the effect of Cyber Dragon Core in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon 1 "Cyber Dragon" monster from his Deck. He Special Summons Cyber Dragon Nachster (200/200/1) in Defense Position. As Nachster was Special Summoned, Ryo can target and Special Summon 1 Machine monster with 2100 ATK or DEF from his GY. He Special Summons Cyber Dragon (2100/1600/5) in Attack Position. Ryo Normal Summons Cyber Dragon Aufwind (1600/1100/4). As Aufwind was Normal Summoned, Ryo can excavate the top 3 cards of his Deck, then add 1 excavated Spell/Trap Card to his hand and shuffle the rest into his Deck. He adds Super Strident Blaze to his hand. Ryo activates the 1st effect of Cyberload Factory, fusing Cyber Dragon, Nachster treated as Cyber Dragon, and Aufwind treated as Cyber Dragon to Fusion Summon Cyber End Dragon (4000/2800/10) in Attack Position. As Aufwind was used as material for the Fusion Summon of a Machine Fusion Monster, Ryo can target and destroy up to 2 Spell/Trap Cards Serena controls. He targets and destroys Hunting Dance and Hunting Grounds. Ryo activates Cyberload Factory's 2nd effect, targeting Cyber End Dragon (Cyber End Dragon: 4000→4800). Ryo activates the Equip Spell Card Super Strident Blaze and equips it to Cyber End Dragon. Serena cannot activate cards or effects during the Battle Phase, and at the end of the Damage Step, if Cyber End Dragon attacked Serena's monster, Ryo can banish 1 "Cyber Dragon" monster from his GY to attack her monster again in a row.

Cyber End Dragon attacks and destroys Leopard Dancer (Serena: 2800→1400 LP). Ryo Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 5: Serena

Serena draws. She Normal Summons Lunalight Emerald Bird (1200/1000/4). As Emerald Bird was Normal Summoned, Serena can send 1 "Lunalight" card from her hand to the GY, then draw 1 card. She discards Lunalight Gold Caracal and draws. As Gold Caracal was sent to the GY by a card effect, Serena can Special Summon 1 "Lunalight" monster from her GY. She Special Summons Crimson Fox (1800/600/4) in Attack Position. Serena overlays her Level 4 Crimson Fox and Emerald Bird to Xyz Summon Lunalight Puma Dancer (2200/1800/4/2) in Attack Position. Serena activates Puma Dancer's effect, detaching 1 Overlay Unit to add 1 "Polymerization" Spell or "Lunalight" card from her Deck or GY to her hand (Puma Dancer: 2 OU→1 OU). She adds Lunalight Fusion from her Deck to her hand. Serena activates the Spell Card Lunalight Fusion, which lets her Fusion Summon 1 "Lunalight" Fusion Monster using monsters from her hand or field as Fusion Material, and as Ryo controls a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, Serena can use 1 "Lunalight" monster in her Deck or Extra Deck as Fusion Material. Serena fuses Puma Dancer on her field with Lunalight Yellow Marten in her hand and Panther Dancer in her Extra Deck to Fusion Summon Lunalight Leo Dancer (3500/3000/10) in Attack Position. As the Xyz Summoned Puma Dancer was used as material to Fusion Summon a "Lunalight" monster, Serena can target 1 monster on the field and send it to the GY. She sends Cyber End Dragon to the GY. As Yellow Marten was sent to the GY by a card effect, Serena can add 1 "Lunalight" Spell/Trap from her Deck to her hand. She adds Lunalight Halberd to her hand. Serena activates the Equip Spell Card Lunalight Halberd, equipping it to Leo Dancer. Leo Dancer gains 800 ATK, and the first time each turn Serena would take battle or effect damage, she takes no damage (Leo Dancer: 3500→4300).

Leo Dancer attacks Ryo directly. As Ryo would take battle damage from Serena's attacking monster, he activates his Set Trap Card Power Wall, which lets him send 1 card from the top of his Deck to the GY for every 500 damage (rounded up) he would take instead. Ryo sends the top 9 cards of his Deck to the GY. As Cyber Alrakis was sent to the GY by a card effect, Ryo can Special Summon it (1200/1800/3) in Defense Position. After damage calculation, Leo Dancer's effect activates, destroying every monster Ryo controls, but the first time each turn Cyber Alrakis would be destroyed by battle or card effect, it is not destroyed. Leo Dancer can make a 2nd attack during each Battle Phase. Leo Dancer attacks and destroys Cyber Alrakis. As the monster equipped with Lunalight Halberd destroyed a monster by battle, Serena can add 1 "Lunalight" card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Lunalight Destruction Dance to her hand. Serena Sets 1 card. She ends her turn.

Turn 6: Ryo

Ryo draws. He activates the effect of Cyber Alrakis in his GY, banishing it to add 1 "Cyber" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cybernetic Fusion Support to his hand. Ryo activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Cybernetic Fusion Support. He pays half his LP (Ryo: 1200→600 LP), and once this turn, if he would Fusion Summon a Machine Fusion Monster, he can banish monsters from his hand, field, and/or GY as Fusion Materials. Ryo activates the 1st effect of Cyberload Factory to Fusion Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster. Ryo banishes Cyberdark Cannon, Cyberdark Claw, Cyberdark Edge, Cyberdark Horn, and Cyberdark Keel from his GY to Fusion Summon Cyberdarkness Dragon (2000/2000/10) in Attack Position. As Cyberdarkness Dragon was Special Summoned, Ryo can equip 1 Dragon or Machine monster from his GY to it and increase its ATK by the original ATK of the monster equipped by this effect. Ryo equips Cyber End Dragon to Cyberdarkness Dragon (Cyberdarkness Dragon: 2000→6000).

Cyberdarkness Dragon attacks Leo Dancer. As Leo Dancer would be destroyed by battle, Serena banishes Aegis Dancer from her GY instead, and Serena takes no damage due to Halberd's effect. As her "Lunalight" monster battled, Serena activates her Set Trap Card Lunalight Destruction Dance, which lets her target and destroy 1 monster Ryo controls, then inflict damage equal to that monster's original ATK. She targets Cyberdarkness Dragon, but as Serena activated a card or effect, Ryo activates Cyberdarkness Dragon's effect, sending the equipped Cyber End Dragon to the GY to negate the activation of Lunalight Destruction Dance and destroy it (Cyberdarkness Dragon: 6000→2000). Ryo activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Cybernetic Conversion, which lets him Tribute 1 Machine Fusion Monster, then Special Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster from his GY with a different original name but the same Level. He Tributes Level 10 Cyberdarkness Dragon to Special Summon Cyber End Dragon (4000/2800/10). The monster Special Summoned by Cybernetic Conversion gains ATK equal to its original ATK, and during the End Phase, Ryo will take damage equal to the original ATK of the Special Summoned monster (Cyber End Dragon: 4000→8000). Cyber End Dragon attacks and destroys Leo Dancer (Serena: 1400→0 LP). Ryo wins.

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Barrett:

Sentinel Supplier
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Effect] ATK 1200 DEF 1700 Level: 4
If this card is sent to the GY as Fusion Material for a Fusion Summon: You can add 1 Machine monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Sentinel Supplier" once per turn.

Beastborg Taurus Jaeger
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Fusion/Effect] ATK 2500 DEF 1200 Level: 6
1 Level 4 or lower Beast-Warrior monster + 1 Level 4 or lower Machine monster
Once per turn: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; negate its effects, then decrease its ATK by 800. If this card is destroyed by battle, and all of the Fusion Materials that were used for its Fusion Summon are in your GY: You can Special Summon all of them.

Automated Sentinel
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Effect] ATK 1600 DEF 2000 Level: 5
During damage calculation, if your Machine monster is attacked (Quick Effect): You can discard this card; you take no battle damage from that battle. You can only use this effect of "Automated Sentinel" once per turn.

Beastborg Panther Defender
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Link/Effect] ATK 1600 LINK-2 ↙↘
2 Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters
If this card is Link Summoned: You can add 1 "Beastborg" Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand. Your opponent cannot target "Beastborg" monsters for attacks, except this one. If your "Beastborg" monster battles an opponent's monster, that monster loses ATK equal to the number of "Beastborg" monsters you control x 200 during damage calculation only.

Beastborg Rhino Berserker
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Fusion/Effect] ATK 2300 DEF 1500 Level: 6
1 Level 4 or lower Beast-Warrior monster + 1 Level 4 or lower Machine monster
This Fusion Summoned card can attack all Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls, once each. If this card is destroyed by battle, and all of the Fusion Materials that were used for its Fusion Summon are in your GY: You can Special Summon all of them.

Repair Sentinel
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Effect] ATK 1400 DEF 1600 Level: 4
If this card is sent to the GY as Fusion Material for a Fusion Summon: You can Special Summon 1 Beast-Warrior or Machine monster from your GY in Defense Position. You can only use this effect of "Repair Sentinel" once per turn.

Beastborg Manticore Destroyer
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Fusion/Effect] ATK 2400 DEF 1600 Level: 7
1 Level 6 or lower Beast-Warrior monster + 1 Level 5 or higher Machine monster
Your "Beastborg" monsters gain 200 ATK for each "Beastborg" monster you control. If your "Beastborg" monster destroys an opponent's monster by battle: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; negate its effects, then you can destroy it. You can only use this effect of "Beastborg Manticore Destroyer" once per turn. If this card is destroyed by battle, and all of the Fusion Materials that were used for its Fusion Summon are in your GY: You can Special Summon all of them.

Beastborg Chimera Gladiator
Attribute: DARK Type: [Machine/Fusion/Effect] ATK 3500 DEF 2000 Level: 10
1 Level 8 or higher Beast-Warrior monster + 1+ "Beastborg" monsters
If this card is Fusion Summoned: All other face-up cards currently on the field, except "Beastborg" cards, have their effects negated until the end of the turn, then you can send monsters your opponent controls to the GY, up to the number of monsters used as Fusion Material, and if you do, this card gains 500 ATK for each monster sent to the GY by this effect. During the Battle Phase, when a monster effect is activated: You can negate the activation. If this card is sent to the GY by your opponent's card: You can banish 1 "Beastborg" monster from your GY OR return 1 banished "Beastborg" monster to your Extra Deck, except "Beastborg Chimera Gladiator"; Special Summon this card. You can only use each effect of "Beastborg Chimera Gladiator" once per turn.

Beastborg Supply Chain Continuous Spell Card
You can target up to 2 Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters in your GY; shuffle them into the Deck, then add an equal number of Beast-Warrior and/or Machine monsters with different names from your Deck to your hand, also you cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn, except "Beastborg" monsters (even if this card leaves the field). You must control no monsters or only control "Beastborg" monsters to activate and resolve this effect. You can only use this effect of "Beastborg Supply Chain" once per turn.

Beastborg Fusioner Mk. 2 Continuous Spell Card
Activate this card by sending 1 "Beastborg" card from your hand or field to the GY. "Beastborg" monsters you control cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects. Once per turn, during your Main Phase: You can Fusion Summon 1 "Beastborg" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Material. If this card was activated by sending "Beastborg Fusioner" to the GY, you can also banish monsters from your GY as Fusion Material.

Beastborg Recall Normal Spell Card
Return 2 "Beastborg" Fusion Monsters that are banished and/or in your GY to the Extra Deck; draw 3 cards. You can only use 1 "Beastborg Recall" per turn.

Beastborg Medal of the Iron Shield Continuous Trap Card
All battle damage you take from battles involving your "Beastborg" monsters is halved. Your "Beastborg" monsters gain 200 ATK for each "Beastborg" monster you control during the Battle Phase only. Your opponent can only attack with 1 monster during each Battle Phase. If you control no "Beastborg" monsters during the End Phase: Destroy this card.

Yuji Kogami:

Code Encrypter
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 800 DEF 300 Level: 2
If a Cyberse monster you control would be used as Link Material for a "Code Talker" monster, this card in your hand can also be used as material. If this card is sent from the hand or field to the GY as material for the Link Summon of a "Code Talker" monster: You can target up to 3 cards in your opponent's GY; banish them. If this card on the field was used as material, you can target 1 monster on the field instead. You can only use each effect of "Code Encrypter" once per turn.

Viral Enhancement Normal Trap Card
Target 1 Cyberse or Dragon Link Monster you control; equip this card to it. It gains ATK equal to its Link Rating x 500, also it cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects. You can banish this card from your GY; Special Summon 1 Cyberse or Dragon monster from your GY. You can only use each effect of "Viral Enhancement" once per turn.

Cynet Hard Reboot Normal Spell Card
If you control no monsters: Shuffle all Cyberse monsters in your GY into the Deck, then draw until you have 3 cards in your hand. If you shuffle 3 or more "Code Talker" monsters into your Extra Deck by this effect, you can draw until you have 5 cards in your hand instead. You cannot conduct your Battle Phase the turn you activate this card. You can only use 1 "Cynet Hard Reboot" per turn.

Code Breakdown Normal Spell Card
If you control 2 or more Extra Linked "Code Talker" monsters: Inflict 800 damage to your opponent for each "Code Talker" monster you control, also, for the rest of this turn after this card resolves, your opponent takes no damage. If you control 5 or more "Code Talker" monsters, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation. You can only use 1 "Code Breakdown" per turn.

Serena:

Lunalight Aegis Dancer (name credit to TheStrangerThatCameFromNowhere)
Attribute: DARK Type: [Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect] ATK 1800 DEF 2600 Level: 7
2 "Lunalight" monsters
Your opponent cannot target "Lunalight" monsters for attacks or with card effects, except this one. The first time this card would be destroyed by battle or card effect each turn, it is not destroyed. If your "Lunalight" monster would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can banish this card from your GY instead.

Lunalight Azure Falcon
Attribute: DARK Type: [Beast-Warrior/Effect] ATK 600 DEF 1100 Level: 4
During your Main Phase: You can Ritual Summon 1 "Lunalight" Ritual Monster from your hand, by Tributing monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed its Level. If this card is sent to the GY by a card effect: You can target 1 "Lunalight" monster on your field or in your GY; gain LP equal to its Level x 100. You can only use each effect of "Lunalight Azure Falcon" once per turn.

Lunalight Puma Dancer
Attribute: DARK Type: [Beast-Warrior/Xyz/Effect] ATK 2200 DEF 1800 Rank: 4
2 Level 4 monsters
You can detach 1 material from this card; add 1 "Polymerization" Spell or "Lunalight" card from your Deck or GY to your hand. If this Xyz Summoned card is used as material for the Fusion Summon of a "Lunalight" monster: You can target 1 monster on the field; send it to the GY. You can only use each effect of "Lunalight Puma Dancer" once per turn.

Lunalight Halberd Equip Spell Card
Equip only to a "Lunalight" monster. It gains 800 ATK. The first time each turn you would take battle or effect damage, you take no damage. You can only use each of the following effects of "Lunalight Halberd" once per turn.
-If the equipped monster destroys your opponent's monster by battle: You can add 1 "Lunalight" card from your Deck to your hand.
-You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 "Lunalight" card from your GY to your hand.

Lunalight Destruction Dance Normal Trap Card
If your "Lunalight" battles, after damage calculation: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; destroy it, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original ATK. You can only use 1 "Lunalight Destruction Dance" per turn.

Ryo Marufuji:

Cyber Dragon Aufwind (name credit to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC)
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Machine/Effect] ATK 1600 DEF 1100 Level: 4
This card's name becomes "Cyber Dragon" while on the field or in the GY. If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can excavate the top 3 cards of your Deck, and if you do, you can add 1 excavated Spell/Trap to your hand, also shuffle the rest into your Deck. If this card is used as material for the Fusion Summon of a Machine Fusion Monster: You can target up to 2 Spell/Trap Cards your opponent controls; destroy them. You can only use each effect of "Cyber Dragon Aufwind" once per turn.

Cyber Alrakis
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Machine/Effect] ATK 1200 DEF 1800 Level: 3
The first time each turn this card would be destroyed by battle or card effect, it is not destroyed. If this card is sent to the GY by a card effect: You can Special Summon this card in Defense Position. You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 "Cyber" card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Cyber Alrakis" once per turn.

Cyberload Factory Continuous Spell Card
The activation of your cards and effects that include an effect that Fusion Summons a Fusion Monster cannot be negated, also your opponent cannot activate cards or effects when a monster is Fusion Summoned this way. You can only use each of the following effects of "Cyberload Factory" once per turn.
-During your Main Phase: Fusion Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Material.
-Target 1 Machine monster you control; until your next Standby Phase, it gains 800 ATK, and if it attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent.

Cybernetic Disposal Normal Trap Card
If your opponent Special Summons a monster: Target that monster; send it to the GY. If you control a Level 8 or higher Machine Fusion Monster, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation. You can only use 1 "Cybernetic Dispersal" per turn.

Cyber Amplification Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 Machine monster you control; that card's ATK becomes equal to double its original ATK until the end of the next turn. If you would take battle damage from a battle involving your Machine monster, you can banish this card from your GY instead. You can only use each effect of "Cyber Amplification" once per turn.

Cybernetic Conversion Quick-Play Spell Card (name credit to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC)
Tribute 1 Machine Fusion Monster you control; Special Summon 1 Machine Fusion Monster from your GY with the same Level but a different original name, and it gains ATK equal to its original ATK. During the End Phase of the turn this card is activated, you take damage equal to the Special Summoned monster's original ATK. You can only use 1 "Cybernetic Conversion" per turn.

Action Cards:

Miracle Life Action Spell Card
After the Damage Step, if your monster is destroyed by battle: Gain LP equal to half that monster's original ATK.

Miracle Attacks Action Spell Card
Tribute 1 monster you control, then target 1 other monster you control; its maximum number of attacks per Battle Phase this turn becomes equal to its current maximum number of attacks +1.

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Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: The Fifth Circuit. Chapter 46 – Those Left Behind

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Question of the Chapter

Do you believe I am more likely to find out what fanfiction dot net's word count limit is through Fifth Circuit, or Hidden Memories? Seriously, this chapter hit over 30,000; sooner or later, I'll be getting an error message that my chapter is too long.

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Author's Notes

Well… that happened. Heartland is really unlucky for Ray's counterparts, isn't it? I'm a little concerned over word limit at this point, so just let me start with this: I hope this chapter's length is an ample reason for taking over a month to finish.

First, we had Barrett vs. Yuji, where the former unveiled several new Beastborgs, while the latter got a duel completely focusing on Code Talkers, and ended with an Extra Link. I've only used the Extra Link once before, mostly because, awesome as it is, I consider it unnecessary most of the time, and Yuji is a practical person. He'll only create an Extra Link if he has a good reason beyond "it's cool." And after Yuji won, Barrett carded himself out of shame. And as a sign of Yuji's character development, while he acknowledges the waste it is, he understands why Barrett committed it.

Then we had Serena vs. Ryo. I was torn when this chapter came up; I thought of what I wrote here, or a Battle Royale between Yuji, Serena, Ryo, and Barrett, where everyone but Ryo lost. However, there's a simple fact that I want to emphasize: Ryo is not Yuji's Academia rival in this story. I do have a character in mind for that role, but it isn't Ryo.

As for why Serena got taken… I know this will be a contentious decision, but sometimes the main characters lose and fail. No matter how hard they try, there's always going to be that chance of failure. And against Ryo… Serena had no chance. She did put up an awesome fight, just like Hanako against Yuri. She even got to Xyz Summon, though Serena's was created with the intent of being a support monster like Salamangreat Miragestallio instead of a damage dealer like Lunalight Leopard Dancer.

Thank you for reading Chapter 45 of Fifth Circuit. Before I go, I have one last scene for all of you. One that felt better here than above…

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Extra Scene

Ryo opened his eyes as the teleporter room came into focus. Looking at the girl on his shoulder, he saw that Serena had finally lost consciousness. I should take her to the nurse, he thought. The Professor was adamant that she be as unhurt as possible.

"You have returned."

Ryo tensed and looked up. A shadow had detached itself from the wall. A shadow Ryo knew very well.

"Was there doubt?" Ryo asked.

"There is always room for doubt. I will inform the Professor of your success."

"Thank you. Has Barrett returned? I know he was fighting Serena's friend, and the latter caught up to me before I left."

"He has not. In fact, we lost the signal on his Duel Disk."

Ryo blinked. Barrett's Duel Disk signal had vanished? That meant… "He was carded? I thought the Lancers didn't dispose of their opponents like that."

"It wasn't Barrett's opponent's doing. The card-sealing function on Barrett's own Duel Disk was activated before we lost the signal."

Then… Ryo closed his eyes with a sigh. "Barrett carded himself." That was a shame; Ryo had honestly liked Barrett. Academia needed more people like him.

"A pointless act." He opened his eyes at the shadow's words. "Barrett was a capable soldier and strategist. By carding himself, he has weakened Academia. How wasteful."

Ryo frowned. "Knowing Barrett, he did it out of a sense of honor. To redeem his pride."

"Pride and honor have no place on the battlefield. What matters is achieving your goal. No matter what." The shadow headed for the door. "I'll inform the Professor of your success and Barrett's failure."

Ryo watched the shadow's departure and sighed when he was gone. "Even after all these years, you still refuse to understand people," he whispered. "I wonder who will break that shell of yours."